2026 GS-8 Pay in Austin
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX earn 20.35% 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 $57,453 in Austin.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Austin
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $57,453 | $2,209.73 | $27.53 | +$9,715 |
| Step 2 | $59,367 | $2,283.35 | $28.45 | +$10,038 |
| Step 3 | $61,282 | $2,357.00 | $29.36 | +$10,362 |
| Step 4 | $63,197 | $2,430.65 | $30.28 | +$10,686 |
| Step 5 | $65,112 | $2,504.31 | $31.20 | +$11,010 |
| Step 6 | $67,027 | $2,577.96 | $32.12 | +$11,334 |
| Step 7 | $68,941 | $2,651.58 | $33.03 | +$11,657 |
| Step 8 | $70,856 | $2,725.23 | $33.95 | +$11,981 |
| Step 9 | $72,771 | $2,798.88 | $34.87 | +$12,305 |
| Step 10 | $74,686 | $2,872.54 | $35.79 | +$12,629 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Austin
Each step below already includes the 20.35% 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 | $57,453 | $2,209.73 | $27.53 | +$9,715 |
| Step 2 | $59,367 | $2,283.35 | $28.45 | +$10,038 |
| Step 3 | $61,282 | $2,357.00 | $29.36 | +$10,362 |
| Step 4 | $63,197 | $2,430.65 | $30.28 | +$10,686 |
| Step 5 | $65,112 | $2,504.31 | $31.20 | +$11,010 |
| Step 6 | $67,027 | $2,577.96 | $32.12 | +$11,334 |
| Step 7 | $68,941 | $2,651.58 | $33.03 | +$11,657 |
| Step 8 | $70,856 | $2,725.23 | $33.95 | +$11,981 |
| Step 9 | $72,771 | $2,798.88 | $34.87 | +$12,305 |
| Step 10 | $74,686 | $2,872.54 | $35.79 | +$12,629 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Austin pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Austin: 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 Austin pay area adds a 20.35% 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 Austin
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Austin earns roughly $2,210 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,873. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Austin
GS-8 in Austin questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Austin?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Austin earns $57,453 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $74,686. This is 20.35% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Austin?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Austin in 2026, it is 20.35%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,715 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Austin?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Austin earns roughly $2,210 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.