An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$63,808 GS-8 Step 1 in Houston (2025)
$82,956 GS-8 Step 10 in Houston (2025)
+$16,543 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-8 pay table for Houston

Each step below already includes the 35.00% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-8 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $63,808 $2,454.15 $30.57 +$16,543
Step 2 $65,935 $2,535.96 $31.59 +$17,094
Step 3 $68,063 $2,617.81 $32.61 +$17,646
Step 4 $70,191 $2,699.65 $33.63 +$18,198
Step 5 $72,318 $2,781.46 $34.65 +$18,749
Step 6 $74,446 $2,863.31 $35.67 +$19,301
Step 7 $76,573 $2,945.12 $36.69 +$19,852
Step 8 $78,701 $3,026.96 $37.71 +$20,404
Step 9 $80,829 $3,108.81 $38.73 +$20,956
Step 10 $82,956 $3,190.62 $39.75 +$21,507
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Houston pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $47,265
  • Houston GS-8 Step 1 $63,808
  • Locality add-on +$16,543
  • Adjustment percent 35.00%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $61,449
  • Houston GS-8 Step 10 $82,956

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-8 in Houston: what to expect

Senior technicians, investigators and lead administrative support. Less common than GS-7 or GS-9, often reserved for specialized technical work.

For 2025, the Houston pay area adds a 35.00% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-8 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.

Promotion path. Promoted to GS-9 after one year in grade.

The rough military equivalent for GS-8 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-8 in Houston

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $2,454 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,191. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2025 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-8 Houston page.

Other grades in Houston

GS-8 in Houston questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in Houston?
    In 2025, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $63,808 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $82,956. This is 35.00% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Houston?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Houston in 2025, it is 35.00%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,543 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Houston?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $2,454 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.