2026 GS-8 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 17.06% 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 $55,882 in Rest of U.S..
2026 GS-8 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $55,882 | $2,149.31 | $26.78 | +$8,144 |
| Step 2 | $57,745 | $2,220.96 | $27.67 | +$8,416 |
| Step 3 | $59,607 | $2,292.58 | $28.56 | +$8,687 |
| Step 4 | $61,469 | $2,364.19 | $29.45 | +$8,958 |
| Step 5 | $63,332 | $2,435.85 | $30.35 | +$9,230 |
| Step 6 | $65,194 | $2,507.46 | $31.24 | +$9,501 |
| Step 7 | $67,057 | $2,579.12 | $32.13 | +$9,773 |
| Step 8 | $68,919 | $2,650.73 | $33.02 | +$10,044 |
| Step 9 | $70,781 | $2,722.35 | $33.92 | +$10,315 |
| Step 10 | $72,644 | $2,794.00 | $34.81 | +$10,587 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 17.06% 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 | $55,882 | $2,149.31 | $26.78 | +$8,144 |
| Step 2 | $57,745 | $2,220.96 | $27.67 | +$8,416 |
| Step 3 | $59,607 | $2,292.58 | $28.56 | +$8,687 |
| Step 4 | $61,469 | $2,364.19 | $29.45 | +$8,958 |
| Step 5 | $63,332 | $2,435.85 | $30.35 | +$9,230 |
| Step 6 | $65,194 | $2,507.46 | $31.24 | +$9,501 |
| Step 7 | $67,057 | $2,579.12 | $32.13 | +$9,773 |
| Step 8 | $68,919 | $2,650.73 | $33.02 | +$10,044 |
| Step 9 | $70,781 | $2,722.35 | $33.92 | +$10,315 |
| Step 10 | $72,644 | $2,794.00 | $34.81 | +$10,587 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Rest of U.S.: 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 Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 17.06% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,149 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,794. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-8 in Rest of U.S. questions
-
How much does a GS-8 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $55,882 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $72,644. This is 17.06% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2026, it is 17.06%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,144 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,149 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.