2026 GS-8 Pay in Los Angeles
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA earn 36.47% 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 $65,148 in Los Angeles.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Los Angeles
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $65,148 | $2,505.69 | $31.22 | +$17,410 |
| Step 2 | $67,319 | $2,589.19 | $32.26 | +$17,990 |
| Step 3 | $69,491 | $2,672.73 | $33.30 | +$18,571 |
| Step 4 | $71,662 | $2,756.23 | $34.34 | +$19,151 |
| Step 5 | $73,833 | $2,839.73 | $35.38 | +$19,731 |
| Step 6 | $76,004 | $2,923.23 | $36.42 | +$20,311 |
| Step 7 | $78,175 | $3,006.73 | $37.46 | +$20,891 |
| Step 8 | $80,347 | $3,090.27 | $38.50 | +$21,472 |
| Step 9 | $82,518 | $3,173.77 | $39.54 | +$22,052 |
| Step 10 | $84,689 | $3,257.27 | $40.58 | +$22,632 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Los Angeles
Each step below already includes the 36.47% 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 | $65,148 | $2,505.69 | $31.22 | +$17,410 |
| Step 2 | $67,319 | $2,589.19 | $32.26 | +$17,990 |
| Step 3 | $69,491 | $2,672.73 | $33.30 | +$18,571 |
| Step 4 | $71,662 | $2,756.23 | $34.34 | +$19,151 |
| Step 5 | $73,833 | $2,839.73 | $35.38 | +$19,731 |
| Step 6 | $76,004 | $2,923.23 | $36.42 | +$20,311 |
| Step 7 | $78,175 | $3,006.73 | $37.46 | +$20,891 |
| Step 8 | $80,347 | $3,090.27 | $38.50 | +$21,472 |
| Step 9 | $82,518 | $3,173.77 | $39.54 | +$22,052 |
| Step 10 | $84,689 | $3,257.27 | $40.58 | +$22,632 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Los Angeles pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Los Angeles: 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 Los Angeles pay area adds a 36.47% 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 Los Angeles
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $2,506 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,257. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Los Angeles
GS-8 in Los Angeles questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Los Angeles?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns $65,148 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $84,689. This is 36.47% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Los Angeles?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Los Angeles in 2026, it is 36.47%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,410 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Los Angeles?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $2,506 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.