2025 GL-8 Pay Scale
The 2025 base salary range for GL-8 runs from $50,417 at Step 1 to $64,601 at Step 10. Use this page to see the full step table, salary range in the locality pay areas, and how GL-8 fits into a federal law enforcement career ladder.
Archive year. This is the 2025 GL-8 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-8.
$50,417 GL-8 Step 1 base salary
$64,601 GL-8 Step 10 base salary
Second Lieutenant Approximate military comparison
2025 GL-8 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-8 table for 2025. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $50,417 | $1,939.12 | $24.16 | - |
| Step 2 | $51,993 | $1,999.73 | $24.91 | - |
| Step 3 | $53,569 | $2,060.35 | $25.67 | - |
| Step 4 | $55,145 | $2,120.96 | $26.42 | - |
| Step 5 | $56,721 | $2,181.58 | $27.18 | - |
| Step 6 | $58,297 | $2,242.19 | $27.93 | - |
| Step 7 | $59,873 | $2,302.81 | $28.69 | - |
| Step 8 | $61,449 | $2,363.42 | $29.44 | - |
| Step 9 | $63,025 | $2,424.04 | $30.20 | - |
| Step 10 | $64,601 | $2,484.65 | $30.95 | - |
What kind of role is GL-8?
Typical role. Senior journeyman law enforcement positions and lead officers with more complex assignments.
Typical qualification path. One year of specialized experience at the GL-7 level.
Career progression. GL-8 often serves as a stepping point to supervisory or senior investigator roles.
Step progression for GL-8
GL-8 salary in every locality pay area
The table below compares GL-8 Step 1 and Step 10 across all published locality pay areas for 2025. Use it to see how much location changes federal law enforcement salary.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GL-8 Step 1 | GL-8 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 46.34% | $73,780 | $94,537 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $69,550 | $89,117 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $68,804 | $88,161 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $68,063 | $87,211 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $67,529 | $86,527 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $67,418 | $86,384 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $66,843 | $85,648 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $66,732 | $85,506 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $66,591 | $85,325 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $66,334 | $84,996 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $65,976 | $84,537 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $65,804 | $84,317 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $65,421 | $83,826 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $65,098 | $83,413 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $65,033 | $83,329 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $64,342 | $82,444 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $64,161 | $82,211 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $63,591 | $81,481 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $62,855 | $80,538 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $62,411 | $79,970 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $61,736 | $79,104 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $61,720 | $79,085 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $61,715 | $79,078 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $61,650 | $78,994 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $61,630 | $78,968 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $61,625 | $78,962 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $61,615 | $78,949 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $61,584 | $78,910 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $61,473 | $78,768 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $61,463 | $78,755 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $61,302 | $78,548 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $61,216 | $78,439 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $61,020 | $78,187 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $60,889 | $78,019 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $60,677 | $77,747 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $60,576 | $77,618 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $60,516 | $77,541 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $60,334 | $77,308 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $60,284 | $77,243 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $60,223 | $77,166 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $60,213 | $77,153 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $60,137 | $77,056 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $59,981 | $76,856 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $59,961 | $76,830 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $59,895 | $76,746 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $59,885 | $76,733 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $59,658 | $76,442 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $59,613 | $76,384 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $59,608 | $76,378 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $59,568 | $76,326 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $59,497 | $76,236 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $59,457 | $76,184 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $59,432 | $76,152 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $59,326 | $76,016 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $59,316 | $76,003 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $59,306 | $75,990 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $59,250 | $75,919 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $59,018 | $75,622 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $50,417 | $64,601 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-8
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2025
GL-3 $32,918
GL-4 $36,957
GL-5 $42,490
GL-6 $44,807
GL-7 $48,371
GL-8 $50,417
GL-9 $53,945
GL-10 $59,405
GL-8 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-8 in 2025?
The base starting salary for GL-8 in 2025 is $50,417 at Step 1 before locality pay. In the highest-paying locality area, GL-8 starts higher once the duty-station adjustment is applied. -
How long does it take to move through GL-8 steps?
Within-grade step increases follow the same OPM timing used for other statutory pay systems: one year between Steps 1 to 4, two years between Steps 4 to 7, and three years between Steps 7 to 10, assuming acceptable performance. -
Does GL-8 include LEAP or overtime?
No. This table shows basic pay only. It does not include law enforcement availability pay, overtime, premium pay, retention incentives, or other agency-specific compensation.