2026 GS-8 Pay in Raleigh
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC earn 22.24% 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 $58,355 in Raleigh.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Raleigh
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $58,355 | $2,244.42 | $27.96 | +$10,617 |
| Step 2 | $60,300 | $2,319.23 | $28.89 | +$10,971 |
| Step 3 | $62,245 | $2,394.04 | $29.83 | +$11,325 |
| Step 4 | $64,189 | $2,468.81 | $30.76 | +$11,678 |
| Step 5 | $66,134 | $2,543.62 | $31.69 | +$12,032 |
| Step 6 | $68,079 | $2,618.42 | $32.62 | +$12,386 |
| Step 7 | $70,024 | $2,693.23 | $33.55 | +$12,740 |
| Step 8 | $71,969 | $2,768.04 | $34.48 | +$13,094 |
| Step 9 | $73,914 | $2,842.85 | $35.42 | +$13,448 |
| Step 10 | $75,858 | $2,917.62 | $36.35 | +$13,801 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Raleigh
Each step below already includes the 22.24% 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 | $58,355 | $2,244.42 | $27.96 | +$10,617 |
| Step 2 | $60,300 | $2,319.23 | $28.89 | +$10,971 |
| Step 3 | $62,245 | $2,394.04 | $29.83 | +$11,325 |
| Step 4 | $64,189 | $2,468.81 | $30.76 | +$11,678 |
| Step 5 | $66,134 | $2,543.62 | $31.69 | +$12,032 |
| Step 6 | $68,079 | $2,618.42 | $32.62 | +$12,386 |
| Step 7 | $70,024 | $2,693.23 | $33.55 | +$12,740 |
| Step 8 | $71,969 | $2,768.04 | $34.48 | +$13,094 |
| Step 9 | $73,914 | $2,842.85 | $35.42 | +$13,448 |
| Step 10 | $75,858 | $2,917.62 | $36.35 | +$13,801 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Raleigh pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Raleigh: 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 Raleigh pay area adds a 22.24% 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 Raleigh
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $2,244 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,918. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Raleigh
GS-8 in Raleigh questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Raleigh?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns $58,355 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $75,858. This is 22.24% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Raleigh?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Raleigh in 2026, it is 22.24%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,617 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Raleigh?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $2,244 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.