2026 GS-8 Pay in San Francisco
GS-8 employees with a duty station in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA earn 46.34% 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 $69,860 in San Francisco.
2026 GS-8 Pay in San Francisco
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $69,860 | $2,686.92 | $33.47 | +$22,122 |
| Step 2 | $72,188 | $2,776.46 | $34.59 | +$22,859 |
| Step 3 | $74,516 | $2,866.00 | $35.70 | +$23,596 |
| Step 4 | $76,845 | $2,955.58 | $36.82 | +$24,334 |
| Step 5 | $79,173 | $3,045.12 | $37.94 | +$25,071 |
| Step 6 | $81,501 | $3,134.65 | $39.05 | +$25,808 |
| Step 7 | $83,829 | $3,224.19 | $40.17 | +$26,545 |
| Step 8 | $86,158 | $3,313.77 | $41.28 | +$27,283 |
| Step 9 | $88,486 | $3,403.31 | $42.40 | +$28,020 |
| Step 10 | $90,814 | $3,492.85 | $43.51 | +$28,757 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for San Francisco
Each step below already includes the 46.34% 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 | $69,860 | $2,686.92 | $33.47 | +$22,122 |
| Step 2 | $72,188 | $2,776.46 | $34.59 | +$22,859 |
| Step 3 | $74,516 | $2,866.00 | $35.70 | +$23,596 |
| Step 4 | $76,845 | $2,955.58 | $36.82 | +$24,334 |
| Step 5 | $79,173 | $3,045.12 | $37.94 | +$25,071 |
| Step 6 | $81,501 | $3,134.65 | $39.05 | +$25,808 |
| Step 7 | $83,829 | $3,224.19 | $40.17 | +$26,545 |
| Step 8 | $86,158 | $3,313.77 | $41.28 | +$27,283 |
| Step 9 | $88,486 | $3,403.31 | $42.40 | +$28,020 |
| Step 10 | $90,814 | $3,492.85 | $43.51 | +$28,757 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Francisco pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in San Francisco: 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 Francisco pay area adds a 46.34% 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 Francisco
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,687 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,493. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in San Francisco
GS-8 in San Francisco questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in San Francisco?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $69,860 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $90,814. This is 46.34% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in San Francisco?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2026, it is 46.34%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $22,122 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in San Francisco?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,687 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.