2026 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 33.94% 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 $63,940 in Washington DC.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $63,940 | $2,459.23 | $30.64 | +$16,202 |
| Step 2 | $66,071 | $2,541.19 | $31.66 | +$16,742 |
| Step 3 | $68,202 | $2,623.15 | $32.68 | +$17,282 |
| Step 4 | $70,333 | $2,705.12 | $33.70 | +$17,822 |
| Step 5 | $72,464 | $2,787.08 | $34.72 | +$18,362 |
| Step 6 | $74,595 | $2,869.04 | $35.74 | +$18,902 |
| Step 7 | $76,726 | $2,951.00 | $36.76 | +$19,442 |
| Step 8 | $78,857 | $3,032.96 | $37.78 | +$19,982 |
| Step 9 | $80,988 | $3,114.92 | $38.81 | +$20,522 |
| Step 10 | $83,119 | $3,196.88 | $39.83 | +$21,062 |
2026 GS-8 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 33.94% 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 | $63,940 | $2,459.23 | $30.64 | +$16,202 |
| Step 2 | $66,071 | $2,541.19 | $31.66 | +$16,742 |
| Step 3 | $68,202 | $2,623.15 | $32.68 | +$17,282 |
| Step 4 | $70,333 | $2,705.12 | $33.70 | +$17,822 |
| Step 5 | $72,464 | $2,787.08 | $34.72 | +$18,362 |
| Step 6 | $74,595 | $2,869.04 | $35.74 | +$18,902 |
| Step 7 | $76,726 | $2,951.00 | $36.76 | +$19,442 |
| Step 8 | $78,857 | $3,032.96 | $37.78 | +$19,982 |
| Step 9 | $80,988 | $3,114.92 | $38.81 | +$20,522 |
| Step 10 | $83,119 | $3,196.88 | $39.83 | +$21,062 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 33.94% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,459 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,197. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-8 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Washington DC?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $63,940 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $83,119. This is 33.94% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2026, it is 33.94%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,202 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,459 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.