2026 GS-8 Pay in San Diego
GS-8 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.72% 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 $63,835 in San Diego.
2026 GS-8 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $63,835 | $2,455.19 | $30.59 | +$16,097 |
| Step 2 | $65,963 | $2,537.04 | $31.61 | +$16,634 |
| Step 3 | $68,090 | $2,618.85 | $32.63 | +$17,170 |
| Step 4 | $70,218 | $2,700.69 | $33.65 | +$17,707 |
| Step 5 | $72,345 | $2,782.50 | $34.66 | +$18,243 |
| Step 6 | $74,473 | $2,864.35 | $35.68 | +$18,780 |
| Step 7 | $76,600 | $2,946.15 | $36.70 | +$19,316 |
| Step 8 | $78,728 | $3,028.00 | $37.72 | +$19,853 |
| Step 9 | $80,855 | $3,109.81 | $38.74 | +$20,389 |
| Step 10 | $82,983 | $3,191.65 | $39.76 | +$20,926 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for San Diego
Each step below already includes the 33.72% 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 | $63,835 | $2,455.19 | $30.59 | +$16,097 |
| Step 2 | $65,963 | $2,537.04 | $31.61 | +$16,634 |
| Step 3 | $68,090 | $2,618.85 | $32.63 | +$17,170 |
| Step 4 | $70,218 | $2,700.69 | $33.65 | +$17,707 |
| Step 5 | $72,345 | $2,782.50 | $34.66 | +$18,243 |
| Step 6 | $74,473 | $2,864.35 | $35.68 | +$18,780 |
| Step 7 | $76,600 | $2,946.15 | $36.70 | +$19,316 |
| Step 8 | $78,728 | $3,028.00 | $37.72 | +$19,853 |
| Step 9 | $80,855 | $3,109.81 | $38.74 | +$20,389 |
| Step 10 | $82,983 | $3,191.65 | $39.76 | +$20,926 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in San Diego: 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 San Diego pay area adds a 33.72% 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 San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $2,455 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,192. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-8 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in San Diego?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $63,835 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $82,983. This is 33.72% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in San Diego?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2026, it is 33.72%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,097 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $2,455 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.