2026 GS-8 Pay in Milwaukee
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI earn 22.42% 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 $58,441 in Milwaukee.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Milwaukee
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $58,441 | $2,247.73 | $28.00 | +$10,703 |
| Step 2 | $60,389 | $2,322.65 | $28.94 | +$11,060 |
| Step 3 | $62,336 | $2,397.54 | $29.87 | +$11,416 |
| Step 4 | $64,284 | $2,472.46 | $30.80 | +$11,773 |
| Step 5 | $66,232 | $2,547.38 | $31.74 | +$12,130 |
| Step 6 | $68,179 | $2,622.27 | $32.67 | +$12,486 |
| Step 7 | $70,127 | $2,697.19 | $33.60 | +$12,843 |
| Step 8 | $72,075 | $2,772.12 | $34.54 | +$13,200 |
| Step 9 | $74,022 | $2,847.00 | $35.47 | +$13,556 |
| Step 10 | $75,970 | $2,921.92 | $36.40 | +$13,913 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Milwaukee
Each step below already includes the 22.42% 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 | $58,441 | $2,247.73 | $28.00 | +$10,703 |
| Step 2 | $60,389 | $2,322.65 | $28.94 | +$11,060 |
| Step 3 | $62,336 | $2,397.54 | $29.87 | +$11,416 |
| Step 4 | $64,284 | $2,472.46 | $30.80 | +$11,773 |
| Step 5 | $66,232 | $2,547.38 | $31.74 | +$12,130 |
| Step 6 | $68,179 | $2,622.27 | $32.67 | +$12,486 |
| Step 7 | $70,127 | $2,697.19 | $33.60 | +$12,843 |
| Step 8 | $72,075 | $2,772.12 | $34.54 | +$13,200 |
| Step 9 | $74,022 | $2,847.00 | $35.47 | +$13,556 |
| Step 10 | $75,970 | $2,921.92 | $36.40 | +$13,913 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Milwaukee pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Milwaukee: 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 Milwaukee pay area adds a 22.42% 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 Milwaukee
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Milwaukee earns roughly $2,248 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,922. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Milwaukee
GS-8 in Milwaukee questions
-
How much does a GS-8 make in Milwaukee?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Milwaukee earns $58,441 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $75,970. This is 22.42% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Milwaukee?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Milwaukee in 2026, it is 22.42%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,703 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Milwaukee?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Milwaukee earns roughly $2,248 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.