An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$61,945 GS-8 Step 1 in Sacramento (2026)
$80,525 GS-8 Step 10 in Sacramento (2026)
+$14,207 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-8 pay table for Sacramento

Each step below already includes the 29.76% 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 $61,945 $2,382.50 $29.68 +$14,207
Step 2 $64,009 $2,461.88 $30.67 +$14,680
Step 3 $66,074 $2,541.31 $31.66 +$15,154
Step 4 $68,138 $2,620.69 $32.65 +$15,627
Step 5 $70,203 $2,700.12 $33.64 +$16,101
Step 6 $72,267 $2,779.50 $34.63 +$16,574
Step 7 $74,332 $2,858.92 $35.62 +$17,048
Step 8 $76,396 $2,938.31 $36.61 +$17,521
Step 9 $78,461 $3,017.73 $37.60 +$17,995
Step 10 $80,525 $3,097.12 $38.58 +$18,468
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Sacramento pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $47,738
  • Sacramento GS-8 Step 1 $61,945
  • Locality add-on +$14,207
  • Adjustment percent 29.76%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $62,057
  • Sacramento GS-8 Step 10 $80,525

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-8 in Sacramento: 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 Sacramento pay area adds a 29.76% 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 Sacramento

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Sacramento earns roughly $2,383 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,097. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Sacramento

GS-8 in Sacramento questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in Sacramento?
    In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Sacramento earns $61,945 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $80,525. This is 29.76% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Sacramento?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Sacramento in 2026, it is 29.76%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,207 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Sacramento?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Sacramento earns roughly $2,383 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.