2026 GS-8 Pay in Seattle
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 31.57% 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 $62,809 in Seattle.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Seattle
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $62,809 | $2,415.73 | $30.10 | +$15,071 |
| Step 2 | $64,902 | $2,496.23 | $31.10 | +$15,573 |
| Step 3 | $66,995 | $2,576.73 | $32.10 | +$16,075 |
| Step 4 | $69,089 | $2,657.27 | $33.10 | +$16,578 |
| Step 5 | $71,182 | $2,737.77 | $34.11 | +$17,080 |
| Step 6 | $73,275 | $2,818.27 | $35.11 | +$17,582 |
| Step 7 | $75,369 | $2,898.81 | $36.11 | +$18,085 |
| Step 8 | $77,462 | $2,979.31 | $37.12 | +$18,587 |
| Step 9 | $79,555 | $3,059.81 | $38.12 | +$19,089 |
| Step 10 | $81,648 | $3,140.31 | $39.12 | +$19,591 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Seattle
Each step below already includes the 31.57% 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 | $62,809 | $2,415.73 | $30.10 | +$15,071 |
| Step 2 | $64,902 | $2,496.23 | $31.10 | +$15,573 |
| Step 3 | $66,995 | $2,576.73 | $32.10 | +$16,075 |
| Step 4 | $69,089 | $2,657.27 | $33.10 | +$16,578 |
| Step 5 | $71,182 | $2,737.77 | $34.11 | +$17,080 |
| Step 6 | $73,275 | $2,818.27 | $35.11 | +$17,582 |
| Step 7 | $75,369 | $2,898.81 | $36.11 | +$18,085 |
| Step 8 | $77,462 | $2,979.31 | $37.12 | +$18,587 |
| Step 9 | $79,555 | $3,059.81 | $38.12 | +$19,089 |
| Step 10 | $81,648 | $3,140.31 | $39.12 | +$19,591 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Seattle pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Seattle: 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 Seattle pay area adds a 31.57% 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 Seattle
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $2,416 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,140. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Seattle
GS-8 in Seattle questions
-
How much does a GS-8 make in Seattle?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns $62,809 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $81,648. This is 31.57% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Seattle?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Seattle in 2026, it is 31.57%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,071 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Seattle?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $2,416 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.