2026 GS-8 Pay in Albuquerque
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM earn 18.33% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $47,738 on the base table to $56,488 in Albuquerque.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Albuquerque
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $56,488 | $2,172.62 | $27.07 | +$8,750 |
| Step 2 | $58,371 | $2,245.04 | $27.97 | +$9,042 |
| Step 3 | $60,254 | $2,317.46 | $28.87 | +$9,334 |
| Step 4 | $62,136 | $2,389.85 | $29.77 | +$9,625 |
| Step 5 | $64,019 | $2,462.27 | $30.68 | +$9,917 |
| Step 6 | $65,902 | $2,534.69 | $31.58 | +$10,209 |
| Step 7 | $67,784 | $2,607.08 | $32.48 | +$10,500 |
| Step 8 | $69,667 | $2,679.50 | $33.38 | +$10,792 |
| Step 9 | $71,549 | $2,751.88 | $34.28 | +$11,083 |
| Step 10 | $73,432 | $2,824.31 | $35.19 | +$11,375 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Albuquerque
Each step below already includes the 18.33% 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 | $56,488 | $2,172.62 | $27.07 | +$8,750 |
| Step 2 | $58,371 | $2,245.04 | $27.97 | +$9,042 |
| Step 3 | $60,254 | $2,317.46 | $28.87 | +$9,334 |
| Step 4 | $62,136 | $2,389.85 | $29.77 | +$9,625 |
| Step 5 | $64,019 | $2,462.27 | $30.68 | +$9,917 |
| Step 6 | $65,902 | $2,534.69 | $31.58 | +$10,209 |
| Step 7 | $67,784 | $2,607.08 | $32.48 | +$10,500 |
| Step 8 | $69,667 | $2,679.50 | $33.38 | +$10,792 |
| Step 9 | $71,549 | $2,751.88 | $34.28 | +$11,083 |
| Step 10 | $73,432 | $2,824.31 | $35.19 | +$11,375 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Albuquerque pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Albuquerque: 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 2026, the Albuquerque pay area adds a 18.33% 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 Albuquerque
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Albuquerque earns roughly $2,173 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,824. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Albuquerque
GS-8 in Albuquerque questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Albuquerque?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Albuquerque earns $56,488 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $73,432. This is 18.33% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Albuquerque?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Albuquerque in 2026, it is 18.33%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,750 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Albuquerque?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Albuquerque earns roughly $2,173 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.