2025 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 33.94% 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 $63,307 in Washington DC.
2025 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $63,307 | $2,434.88 | $30.33 | +$16,042 |
| Step 2 | $65,418 | $2,516.08 | $31.35 | +$16,577 |
| Step 3 | $67,529 | $2,597.27 | $32.36 | +$17,112 |
| Step 4 | $69,639 | $2,678.42 | $33.37 | +$17,646 |
| Step 5 | $71,750 | $2,759.62 | $34.38 | +$18,181 |
| Step 6 | $73,861 | $2,840.81 | $35.39 | +$18,716 |
| Step 7 | $75,972 | $2,922.00 | $36.40 | +$19,251 |
| Step 8 | $78,083 | $3,003.19 | $37.41 | +$19,786 |
| Step 9 | $80,194 | $3,084.38 | $38.43 | +$20,321 |
| Step 10 | $82,305 | $3,165.58 | $39.44 | +$20,856 |
2025 GS-8 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 33.94% 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 | $63,307 | $2,434.88 | $30.33 | +$16,042 |
| Step 2 | $65,418 | $2,516.08 | $31.35 | +$16,577 |
| Step 3 | $67,529 | $2,597.27 | $32.36 | +$17,112 |
| Step 4 | $69,639 | $2,678.42 | $33.37 | +$17,646 |
| Step 5 | $71,750 | $2,759.62 | $34.38 | +$18,181 |
| Step 6 | $73,861 | $2,840.81 | $35.39 | +$18,716 |
| Step 7 | $75,972 | $2,922.00 | $36.40 | +$19,251 |
| Step 8 | $78,083 | $3,003.19 | $37.41 | +$19,786 |
| Step 9 | $80,194 | $3,084.38 | $38.43 | +$20,321 |
| Step 10 | $82,305 | $3,165.58 | $39.44 | +$20,856 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 33.94% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,435 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,166. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-8 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Washington DC?
In 2025, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $63,307 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $82,305. This is 33.94% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2025, it is 33.94%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,042 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,435 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.