2026 GS-8 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 28.99% 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 $61,577 in Philadelphia.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $61,577 | $2,368.35 | $29.51 | +$13,839 |
| Step 2 | $63,629 | $2,447.27 | $30.49 | +$14,300 |
| Step 3 | $65,682 | $2,526.23 | $31.47 | +$14,762 |
| Step 4 | $67,734 | $2,605.15 | $32.46 | +$15,223 |
| Step 5 | $69,786 | $2,684.08 | $33.44 | +$15,684 |
| Step 6 | $71,838 | $2,763.00 | $34.42 | +$16,145 |
| Step 7 | $73,891 | $2,841.96 | $35.41 | +$16,607 |
| Step 8 | $75,943 | $2,920.88 | $36.39 | +$17,068 |
| Step 9 | $77,995 | $2,999.81 | $37.37 | +$17,529 |
| Step 10 | $80,047 | $3,078.73 | $38.36 | +$17,990 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 28.99% 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 | $61,577 | $2,368.35 | $29.51 | +$13,839 |
| Step 2 | $63,629 | $2,447.27 | $30.49 | +$14,300 |
| Step 3 | $65,682 | $2,526.23 | $31.47 | +$14,762 |
| Step 4 | $67,734 | $2,605.15 | $32.46 | +$15,223 |
| Step 5 | $69,786 | $2,684.08 | $33.44 | +$15,684 |
| Step 6 | $71,838 | $2,763.00 | $34.42 | +$16,145 |
| Step 7 | $73,891 | $2,841.96 | $35.41 | +$16,607 |
| Step 8 | $75,943 | $2,920.88 | $36.39 | +$17,068 |
| Step 9 | $77,995 | $2,999.81 | $37.37 | +$17,529 |
| Step 10 | $80,047 | $3,078.73 | $38.36 | +$17,990 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.99% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $2,368 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,079. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-8 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Philadelphia?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $61,577 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $80,047. This is 28.99% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2026, it is 28.99%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,839 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $2,368 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.