2026 GS-8 Pay in Boston
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 32.58% 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 $63,291 in Boston.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $63,291 | $2,434.27 | $30.33 | +$15,553 |
| Step 2 | $65,400 | $2,515.38 | $31.34 | +$16,071 |
| Step 3 | $67,510 | $2,596.54 | $32.35 | +$16,590 |
| Step 4 | $69,619 | $2,677.65 | $33.36 | +$17,108 |
| Step 5 | $71,728 | $2,758.77 | $34.37 | +$17,626 |
| Step 6 | $73,838 | $2,839.92 | $35.38 | +$18,145 |
| Step 7 | $75,947 | $2,921.04 | $36.39 | +$18,663 |
| Step 8 | $78,056 | $3,002.15 | $37.40 | +$19,181 |
| Step 9 | $80,166 | $3,083.31 | $38.41 | +$19,700 |
| Step 10 | $82,275 | $3,164.42 | $39.42 | +$20,218 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 32.58% 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 | $63,291 | $2,434.27 | $30.33 | +$15,553 |
| Step 2 | $65,400 | $2,515.38 | $31.34 | +$16,071 |
| Step 3 | $67,510 | $2,596.54 | $32.35 | +$16,590 |
| Step 4 | $69,619 | $2,677.65 | $33.36 | +$17,108 |
| Step 5 | $71,728 | $2,758.77 | $34.37 | +$17,626 |
| Step 6 | $73,838 | $2,839.92 | $35.38 | +$18,145 |
| Step 7 | $75,947 | $2,921.04 | $36.39 | +$18,663 |
| Step 8 | $78,056 | $3,002.15 | $37.40 | +$19,181 |
| Step 9 | $80,166 | $3,083.31 | $38.41 | +$19,700 |
| Step 10 | $82,275 | $3,164.42 | $39.42 | +$20,218 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Boston: 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 Boston pay area adds a 32.58% 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 Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $2,434 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,164. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Boston
GS-8 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Boston?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $63,291 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $82,275. This is 32.58% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2026, it is 32.58%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,553 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $2,434 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.