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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$69,168 GS-8 Step 1 in San Francisco (2025)
$89,924 GS-8 Step 10 in San Francisco (2025)
+$21,903 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-8 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 46.34% 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 $69,168 $2,660.31 $33.14 +$21,903
Step 2 $71,474 $2,749.00 $34.25 +$22,633
Step 3 $73,780 $2,837.69 $35.35 +$23,363
Step 4 $76,087 $2,926.42 $36.46 +$24,094
Step 5 $78,393 $3,015.12 $37.56 +$24,824
Step 6 $80,699 $3,103.81 $38.67 +$25,554
Step 7 $83,006 $3,192.54 $39.77 +$26,285
Step 8 $85,312 $3,281.23 $40.88 +$27,015
Step 9 $87,618 $3,369.92 $41.98 +$27,745
Step 10 $89,924 $3,458.62 $43.09 +$28,475
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $47,265
  • San Francisco GS-8 Step 1 $69,168
  • Locality add-on +$21,903
  • Adjustment percent 46.34%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $61,449
  • San Francisco GS-8 Step 10 $89,924

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 San Francisco: 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 San Francisco pay area adds a 46.34% 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 San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,660 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,459. 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 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-8 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in San Francisco?
    In 2025, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $69,168 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $89,924. This is 46.34% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2025, it is 46.34%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $21,903 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,660 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.