An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$57,128 GS-8 Step 1 in Charlotte (2026)
$74,264 GS-8 Step 10 in Charlotte (2026)
+$9,390 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-8 pay table for Charlotte

Each step below already includes the 19.67% 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 $57,128 $2,197.23 $27.37 +$9,390
Step 2 $59,032 $2,270.46 $28.29 +$9,703
Step 3 $60,936 $2,343.69 $29.20 +$10,016
Step 4 $62,840 $2,416.92 $30.11 +$10,329
Step 5 $64,744 $2,490.15 $31.02 +$10,642
Step 6 $66,648 $2,563.38 $31.93 +$10,955
Step 7 $68,552 $2,636.62 $32.85 +$11,268
Step 8 $70,456 $2,709.85 $33.76 +$11,581
Step 9 $72,360 $2,783.08 $34.67 +$11,894
Step 10 $74,264 $2,856.31 $35.58 +$12,207
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Charlotte pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $47,738
  • Charlotte GS-8 Step 1 $57,128
  • Locality add-on +$9,390
  • Adjustment percent 19.67%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $62,057
  • Charlotte GS-8 Step 10 $74,264

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 Charlotte: 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 Charlotte pay area adds a 19.67% 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 Charlotte

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $2,197 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,856. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Charlotte

GS-8 in Charlotte questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in Charlotte?
    In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns $57,128 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $74,264. This is 19.67% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Charlotte?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Charlotte in 2026, it is 19.67%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,390 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Charlotte?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $2,197 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.