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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$58,350 GS-8 Step 1 in Cleveland (2026)
$75,852 GS-8 Step 10 in Cleveland (2026)
+$10,612 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-8 pay table for Cleveland

Each step below already includes the 22.23% 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 $58,350 $2,244.23 $27.96 +$10,612
Step 2 $60,295 $2,319.04 $28.89 +$10,966
Step 3 $62,240 $2,393.85 $29.82 +$11,320
Step 4 $64,184 $2,468.62 $30.75 +$11,673
Step 5 $66,129 $2,543.42 $31.69 +$12,027
Step 6 $68,074 $2,618.23 $32.62 +$12,381
Step 7 $70,018 $2,693.00 $33.55 +$12,734
Step 8 $71,963 $2,767.81 $34.48 +$13,088
Step 9 $73,908 $2,842.62 $35.41 +$13,442
Step 10 $75,852 $2,917.38 $36.34 +$13,795
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Cleveland pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $47,738
  • Cleveland GS-8 Step 1 $58,350
  • Locality add-on +$10,612
  • Adjustment percent 22.23%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $62,057
  • Cleveland GS-8 Step 10 $75,852

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 Cleveland: 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 Cleveland pay area adds a 22.23% 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 Cleveland

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns roughly $2,244 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,917. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Cleveland

GS-8 in Cleveland questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in Cleveland?
    In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns $58,350 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $75,852. This is 22.23% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Cleveland?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Cleveland in 2026, it is 22.23%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,612 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Cleveland?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns roughly $2,244 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.