2026 GS-8 Pay in Houston
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 35.00% 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 $64,446 in Houston.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $64,446 | $2,478.69 | $30.88 | +$16,708 |
| Step 2 | $66,594 | $2,561.31 | $31.91 | +$17,265 |
| Step 3 | $68,742 | $2,643.92 | $32.94 | +$17,822 |
| Step 4 | $70,890 | $2,726.54 | $33.97 | +$18,379 |
| Step 5 | $73,038 | $2,809.15 | $35.00 | +$18,936 |
| Step 6 | $75,186 | $2,891.77 | $36.03 | +$19,493 |
| Step 7 | $77,333 | $2,974.35 | $37.05 | +$20,049 |
| Step 8 | $79,481 | $3,056.96 | $38.08 | +$20,606 |
| Step 9 | $81,629 | $3,139.58 | $39.11 | +$21,163 |
| Step 10 | $83,777 | $3,222.19 | $40.14 | +$21,720 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Houston
Each step below already includes the 35.00% 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 | $64,446 | $2,478.69 | $30.88 | +$16,708 |
| Step 2 | $66,594 | $2,561.31 | $31.91 | +$17,265 |
| Step 3 | $68,742 | $2,643.92 | $32.94 | +$17,822 |
| Step 4 | $70,890 | $2,726.54 | $33.97 | +$18,379 |
| Step 5 | $73,038 | $2,809.15 | $35.00 | +$18,936 |
| Step 6 | $75,186 | $2,891.77 | $36.03 | +$19,493 |
| Step 7 | $77,333 | $2,974.35 | $37.05 | +$20,049 |
| Step 8 | $79,481 | $3,056.96 | $38.08 | +$20,606 |
| Step 9 | $81,629 | $3,139.58 | $39.11 | +$21,163 |
| Step 10 | $83,777 | $3,222.19 | $40.14 | +$21,720 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Houston: 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 Houston pay area adds a 35.00% 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 Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $2,479 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,222. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Houston
GS-8 in Houston questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Houston?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $64,446 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $83,777. This is 35.00% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Houston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Houston in 2026, it is 35.00%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,708 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $2,479 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.