2026 GS-8 Pay in Denver
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 30.52% 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 $62,308 in Denver.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $62,308 | $2,396.46 | $29.86 | +$14,570 |
| Step 2 | $64,384 | $2,476.31 | $30.85 | +$15,055 |
| Step 3 | $66,461 | $2,556.19 | $31.85 | +$15,541 |
| Step 4 | $68,537 | $2,636.04 | $32.84 | +$16,026 |
| Step 5 | $70,614 | $2,715.92 | $33.84 | +$16,512 |
| Step 6 | $72,691 | $2,795.81 | $34.83 | +$16,998 |
| Step 7 | $74,767 | $2,875.65 | $35.83 | +$17,483 |
| Step 8 | $76,844 | $2,955.54 | $36.82 | +$17,969 |
| Step 9 | $78,920 | $3,035.38 | $37.82 | +$18,454 |
| Step 10 | $80,997 | $3,115.27 | $38.81 | +$18,940 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 30.52% 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 | $62,308 | $2,396.46 | $29.86 | +$14,570 |
| Step 2 | $64,384 | $2,476.31 | $30.85 | +$15,055 |
| Step 3 | $66,461 | $2,556.19 | $31.85 | +$15,541 |
| Step 4 | $68,537 | $2,636.04 | $32.84 | +$16,026 |
| Step 5 | $70,614 | $2,715.92 | $33.84 | +$16,512 |
| Step 6 | $72,691 | $2,795.81 | $34.83 | +$16,998 |
| Step 7 | $74,767 | $2,875.65 | $35.83 | +$17,483 |
| Step 8 | $76,844 | $2,955.54 | $36.82 | +$17,969 |
| Step 9 | $78,920 | $3,035.38 | $37.82 | +$18,454 |
| Step 10 | $80,997 | $3,115.27 | $38.81 | +$18,940 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Denver: 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 Denver pay area adds a 30.52% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $2,396 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,115. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Denver
GS-8 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Denver?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $62,308 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $80,997. This is 30.52% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2026, it is 30.52%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,570 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $2,396 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.