2025 GS-8 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 28.99% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $47,265 on the base table to $60,967 in Philadelphia.
2025 GS-8 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $60,967 | $2,344.88 | $29.21 | +$13,702 |
| Step 2 | $63,000 | $2,423.08 | $30.19 | +$14,159 |
| Step 3 | $65,033 | $2,501.27 | $31.16 | +$14,616 |
| Step 4 | $67,066 | $2,579.46 | $32.14 | +$15,073 |
| Step 5 | $69,099 | $2,657.65 | $33.11 | +$15,530 |
| Step 6 | $71,132 | $2,735.85 | $34.08 | +$15,987 |
| Step 7 | $73,164 | $2,814.00 | $35.06 | +$16,443 |
| Step 8 | $75,197 | $2,892.19 | $36.03 | +$16,900 |
| Step 9 | $77,230 | $2,970.38 | $37.01 | +$17,357 |
| Step 10 | $79,263 | $3,048.58 | $37.98 | +$17,814 |
2025 GS-8 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 28.99% 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 | $60,967 | $2,344.88 | $29.21 | +$13,702 |
| Step 2 | $63,000 | $2,423.08 | $30.19 | +$14,159 |
| Step 3 | $65,033 | $2,501.27 | $31.16 | +$14,616 |
| Step 4 | $67,066 | $2,579.46 | $32.14 | +$15,073 |
| Step 5 | $69,099 | $2,657.65 | $33.11 | +$15,530 |
| Step 6 | $71,132 | $2,735.85 | $34.08 | +$15,987 |
| Step 7 | $73,164 | $2,814.00 | $35.06 | +$16,443 |
| Step 8 | $75,197 | $2,892.19 | $36.03 | +$16,900 |
| Step 9 | $77,230 | $2,970.38 | $37.01 | +$17,357 |
| Step 10 | $79,263 | $3,048.58 | $37.98 | +$17,814 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.99% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $2,345 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,049. 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 Philadelphia page.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-8 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Philadelphia?
In 2025, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $60,967 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $79,263. This is 28.99% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2025, it is 28.99%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,702 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $2,345 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.