2026 GS-8 Pay in Phoenix
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ earn 22.45% 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 $58,455 in Phoenix.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Phoenix
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Phoenix-Mesa, AZ.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $58,455 | $2,248.27 | $28.01 | +$10,717 |
| Step 2 | $60,403 | $2,323.19 | $28.94 | +$11,074 |
| Step 3 | $62,352 | $2,398.15 | $29.88 | +$11,432 |
| Step 4 | $64,300 | $2,473.08 | $30.81 | +$11,789 |
| Step 5 | $66,248 | $2,548.00 | $31.74 | +$12,146 |
| Step 6 | $68,196 | $2,622.92 | $32.68 | +$12,503 |
| Step 7 | $70,144 | $2,697.85 | $33.61 | +$12,860 |
| Step 8 | $72,092 | $2,772.77 | $34.54 | +$13,217 |
| Step 9 | $74,041 | $2,847.73 | $35.48 | +$13,575 |
| Step 10 | $75,989 | $2,922.65 | $36.41 | +$13,932 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Phoenix
Each step below already includes the 22.45% 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 | $58,455 | $2,248.27 | $28.01 | +$10,717 |
| Step 2 | $60,403 | $2,323.19 | $28.94 | +$11,074 |
| Step 3 | $62,352 | $2,398.15 | $29.88 | +$11,432 |
| Step 4 | $64,300 | $2,473.08 | $30.81 | +$11,789 |
| Step 5 | $66,248 | $2,548.00 | $31.74 | +$12,146 |
| Step 6 | $68,196 | $2,622.92 | $32.68 | +$12,503 |
| Step 7 | $70,144 | $2,697.85 | $33.61 | +$12,860 |
| Step 8 | $72,092 | $2,772.77 | $34.54 | +$13,217 |
| Step 9 | $74,041 | $2,847.73 | $35.48 | +$13,575 |
| Step 10 | $75,989 | $2,922.65 | $36.41 | +$13,932 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Phoenix pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Phoenix: 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 Phoenix pay area adds a 22.45% 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 Phoenix
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Phoenix earns roughly $2,248 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,923. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Phoenix
GS-8 in Phoenix questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Phoenix?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Phoenix earns $58,455 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $75,989. This is 22.45% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Phoenix?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Phoenix in 2026, it is 22.45%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,717 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Phoenix?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Phoenix earns roughly $2,248 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.