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

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$56,942 GS-8 Step 1 in Tucson (2026)
$74,022 GS-8 Step 10 in Tucson (2026)
+$9,204 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-8 pay table for Tucson

Each step below already includes the 19.28% 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 $56,942 $2,190.08 $27.28 +$9,204
Step 2 $58,840 $2,263.08 $28.19 +$9,511
Step 3 $60,737 $2,336.04 $29.10 +$9,817
Step 4 $62,635 $2,409.04 $30.01 +$10,124
Step 5 $64,533 $2,482.04 $30.92 +$10,431
Step 6 $66,431 $2,555.04 $31.83 +$10,738
Step 7 $68,328 $2,628.00 $32.74 +$11,044
Step 8 $70,226 $2,701.00 $33.65 +$11,351
Step 9 $72,124 $2,774.00 $34.56 +$11,658
Step 10 $74,022 $2,847.00 $35.47 +$11,965

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Tucson pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $47,738
  • Tucson GS-8 Step 1 $56,942
  • Locality add-on +$9,204
  • Adjustment percent 19.28%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $62,057
  • Tucson GS-8 Step 10 $74,022

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 Tucson: 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 Tucson pay area adds a 19.28% 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 Tucson

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $2,190 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,847. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Tucson

GS-8 in Tucson questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in Tucson?
    In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns $56,942 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $74,022. This is 19.28% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Tucson?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Tucson in 2026, it is 19.28%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,204 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Tucson?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $2,190 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.