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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$57,300 GS-8 Step 1 in St. Louis (2026)
$74,487 GS-8 Step 10 in St. Louis (2026)
+$9,562 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-8 pay table for St. Louis

Each step below already includes the 20.03% 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 $57,300 $2,203.85 $27.46 +$9,562
Step 2 $59,210 $2,277.31 $28.37 +$9,881
Step 3 $61,119 $2,350.73 $29.29 +$10,199
Step 4 $63,029 $2,424.19 $30.20 +$10,518
Step 5 $64,939 $2,497.65 $31.12 +$10,837
Step 6 $66,848 $2,571.08 $32.03 +$11,155
Step 7 $68,758 $2,644.54 $32.95 +$11,474
Step 8 $70,668 $2,718.00 $33.86 +$11,793
Step 9 $72,577 $2,791.42 $34.78 +$12,111
Step 10 $74,487 $2,864.88 $35.69 +$12,430
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more St. Louis pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $47,738
  • St. Louis GS-8 Step 1 $57,300
  • Locality add-on +$9,562
  • Adjustment percent 20.03%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $62,057
  • St. Louis GS-8 Step 10 $74,487

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 St. Louis: 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 St. Louis pay area adds a 20.03% 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 St. Louis

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $2,204 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,865. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in St. Louis

GS-8 in St. Louis questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in St. Louis?
    In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns $57,300 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $74,487. This is 20.03% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in St. Louis?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For St. Louis in 2026, it is 20.03%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,562 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in St. Louis?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $2,204 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.