2026 GS-8 Pay in Portland
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA earn 26.13% 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 $60,212 in Portland.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Portland
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $60,212 | $2,315.85 | $28.85 | +$12,474 |
| Step 2 | $62,219 | $2,393.04 | $29.81 | +$12,890 |
| Step 3 | $64,225 | $2,470.19 | $30.77 | +$13,305 |
| Step 4 | $66,232 | $2,547.38 | $31.74 | +$13,721 |
| Step 5 | $68,239 | $2,624.58 | $32.70 | +$14,137 |
| Step 6 | $70,246 | $2,701.77 | $33.66 | +$14,553 |
| Step 7 | $72,252 | $2,778.92 | $34.62 | +$14,968 |
| Step 8 | $74,259 | $2,856.12 | $35.58 | +$15,384 |
| Step 9 | $76,266 | $2,933.31 | $36.54 | +$15,800 |
| Step 10 | $78,272 | $3,010.46 | $37.50 | +$16,215 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Portland
Each step below already includes the 26.13% 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 | $60,212 | $2,315.85 | $28.85 | +$12,474 |
| Step 2 | $62,219 | $2,393.04 | $29.81 | +$12,890 |
| Step 3 | $64,225 | $2,470.19 | $30.77 | +$13,305 |
| Step 4 | $66,232 | $2,547.38 | $31.74 | +$13,721 |
| Step 5 | $68,239 | $2,624.58 | $32.70 | +$14,137 |
| Step 6 | $70,246 | $2,701.77 | $33.66 | +$14,553 |
| Step 7 | $72,252 | $2,778.92 | $34.62 | +$14,968 |
| Step 8 | $74,259 | $2,856.12 | $35.58 | +$15,384 |
| Step 9 | $76,266 | $2,933.31 | $36.54 | +$15,800 |
| Step 10 | $78,272 | $3,010.46 | $37.50 | +$16,215 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Portland pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Portland: 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 Portland pay area adds a 26.13% 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 Portland
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Portland earns roughly $2,316 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,010. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Portland
GS-8 in Portland questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Portland?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Portland earns $60,212 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $78,272. This is 26.13% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Portland?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Portland in 2026, it is 26.13%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,474 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Portland?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Portland earns roughly $2,316 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.