GS-8 Pay Scale 2026

GS-8 base pay in 2026 runs from $47,738 at step 1 to $62,057 at step 10. With locality pay, step 1 ranges from $55,882 (Rest of U.S.) to $69,860 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $72,644 (Rest of U.S.) to $90,814 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

Rates are OPM's 2026 tables (checked October 23, 2026). New to the table? See how to read the GS pay scale or use the GS pay calculator for your own grade, step and locality.

Maintained by Archie Chang · OPM tables checked October 23, 2026 · Methodology & sources

GS-8 pay by step

Base pay and the Rest of U.S. rate at each step, with hourly and biweekly pay and the wait for the next step.

GS-8 base pay and Rest of U.S. pay by step, 2026
StepBase payBase raiseRest of U.S. annualHourlyBiweeklyWait for next step
Step 1$47,738$55,882$26.78$2,142.4052 weeks
Step 2$49,329+$1,591$57,745$27.67$2,213.6052 weeks
Step 3$50,920+$1,591$59,607$28.56$2,284.8052 weeks
Step 4$52,511+$1,591$61,469$29.45$2,356.00104 weeks
Step 5$54,102+$1,591$63,332$30.35$2,428.00104 weeks
Step 6$55,693+$1,591$65,194$31.24$2,499.20104 weeks
Step 7$57,284+$1,591$67,057$32.13$2,570.40156 weeks
Step 8$58,875+$1,591$68,919$33.02$2,641.60156 weeks
Step 9$60,466+$1,591$70,781$33.92$2,713.60156 weeks
Step 10$62,057+$1,591$72,644$34.81$2,784.80Top step

GS-8 in numbers

  • Base pay rises 30.0% from step 1 ($47,738) to step 10 ($62,057).
  • GS-9 step 1 in Rest of U.S. ($61,722) is $10,922 below GS-8 step 10 ($72,644).
  • No area pays GS-8 $100,000 or more, even at step 10.
  • Moving from Rest of U.S. to San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA adds $13,978 at step 1 and $18,170 at step 10.
  • No GS-8 rate reaches the $197,200 cap; the highest is $90,814 at step 10 in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.

GS-8 pay range across localities

  • Step 1: from $55,882 (Rest of U.S.) to $69,860 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).
  • Step 10: from $72,644 (Rest of U.S.) to $90,814 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

GS-8 pay by locality

Annual pay in all 58 locality pay areas, highest locality percentage first. An asterisk marks a rate limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap.

GS-8 annual pay at step 1 and step 10 in every locality pay area, 2026
Locality pay areaLocality %Step 1Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA46.34%$69,860$90,814
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA37.95%$65,855$85,608
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA36.47%$65,148$84,689
Houston-The Woodlands, TX35.00%$64,446$83,777
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA33.94%$63,940$83,119
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA33.72%$63,835$82,983
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT32.58%$63,291$82,275
State of Alaska32.36%$63,186$82,139
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA32.08%$63,052$81,965
Seattle-Tacoma, WA31.57%$62,809$81,648
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI30.86%$62,470$81,208
Denver-Aurora, CO30.52%$62,308$80,997
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV29.76%$61,945$80,525
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI29.12%$61,639$80,128
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD28.99%$61,577$80,047
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI27.62%$60,923$79,197
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK27.26%$60,751$78,974
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA26.13%$60,212$78,272
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL24.67%$59,515$77,366
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL23.79%$59,095$76,820
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ22.45%$58,455$75,989
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI22.42%$58,441$75,970
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY22.41%$58,436$75,964
Richmond, VA22.28%$58,374$75,883
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC22.24%$58,355$75,858
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA22.23%$58,350$75,852
State of Hawaii22.21%$58,341$75,840
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH22.15%$58,312$75,803
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN21.93%$58,207$75,666
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN21.91%$58,197$75,654
Laredo, TX21.59%$58,045$75,455
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH21.42%$57,963$75,350
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV21.03%$57,777$75,108
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA20.77%$57,653$74,946
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX20.35%$57,453$74,686
Colorado Springs, CO20.15%$57,357$74,561
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL20.03%$57,300$74,487
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC19.67%$57,128$74,264
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ19.57%$57,080$74,202
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT19.45%$57,023$74,127
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA19.43%$57,013$74,115
Tucson-Nogales, AZ19.28%$56,942$74,022
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS18.97%$56,794$73,829
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL18.93%$56,775$73,804
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC18.80%$56,713$73,724
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX18.78%$56,703$73,711
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM18.33%$56,488$73,432
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL18.24%$56,445$73,376
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA18.23%$56,441$73,370
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN18.15%$56,402$73,320
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA18.01%$56,336$73,233
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL17.93%$56,297$73,184
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY17.88%$56,274$73,153
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID17.67%$56,173$73,022
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA17.65%$56,164$73,010
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX17.63%$56,154$72,998
Reno-Fernley, NV17.52%$56,102$72,929
Rest of U.S.17.06%$55,882$72,644
Show all 10 steps for every area
GS-8 annual pay at every step in every locality pay area, 2026
Locality pay areaStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6Step 7Step 8Step 9Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$69,860$72,188$74,516$76,845$79,173$81,501$83,829$86,158$88,486$90,814
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$65,855$68,049$70,244$72,439$74,634$76,828$79,023$81,218$83,413$85,608
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$65,148$67,319$69,491$71,662$73,833$76,004$78,175$80,347$82,518$84,689
Houston-The Woodlands, TX$64,446$66,594$68,742$70,890$73,038$75,186$77,333$79,481$81,629$83,777
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$63,940$66,071$68,202$70,333$72,464$74,595$76,726$78,857$80,988$83,119
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$63,835$65,963$68,090$70,218$72,345$74,473$76,600$78,728$80,855$82,983
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT$63,291$65,400$67,510$69,619$71,728$73,838$75,947$78,056$80,166$82,275
State of Alaska$63,186$65,292$67,398$69,504$71,609$73,715$75,821$77,927$80,033$82,139
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA$63,052$65,154$67,255$69,357$71,458$73,559$75,661$77,762$79,863$81,965
Seattle-Tacoma, WA$62,809$64,902$66,995$69,089$71,182$73,275$75,369$77,462$79,555$81,648
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$62,470$64,552$66,634$68,716$70,798$72,880$74,962$77,044$79,126$81,208
Denver-Aurora, CO$62,308$64,384$66,461$68,537$70,614$72,691$74,767$76,844$78,920$80,997
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV$61,945$64,009$66,074$68,138$70,203$72,267$74,332$76,396$78,461$80,525
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI$61,639$63,694$65,748$67,802$69,857$71,911$73,965$76,019$78,074$80,128
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD$61,577$63,629$65,682$67,734$69,786$71,838$73,891$75,943$77,995$80,047
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI$60,923$62,954$64,984$67,015$69,045$71,075$73,106$75,136$77,167$79,197
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK$60,751$62,776$64,801$66,825$68,850$70,875$72,900$74,924$76,949$78,974
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA$60,212$62,219$64,225$66,232$68,239$70,246$72,252$74,259$76,266$78,272
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL$59,515$61,498$63,482$65,465$67,449$69,432$71,416$73,399$75,383$77,366
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL$59,095$61,064$63,034$65,003$66,973$68,942$70,912$72,881$74,851$76,820
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ$58,455$60,403$62,352$64,300$66,248$68,196$70,144$72,092$74,041$75,989
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI$58,441$60,389$62,336$64,284$66,232$68,179$70,127$72,075$74,022$75,970
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY$58,436$60,384$62,331$64,279$66,226$68,174$70,121$72,069$74,016$75,964
Richmond, VA$58,374$60,320$62,265$64,210$66,156$68,101$70,047$71,992$73,938$75,883
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC$58,355$60,300$62,245$64,189$66,134$68,079$70,024$71,969$73,914$75,858
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA$58,350$60,295$62,240$64,184$66,129$68,074$70,018$71,963$73,908$75,852
State of Hawaii$58,341$60,285$62,229$64,174$66,118$68,062$70,007$71,951$73,895$75,840
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH$58,312$60,255$62,199$64,142$66,086$68,029$69,972$71,916$73,859$75,803
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN$58,207$60,147$62,087$64,027$65,967$67,906$69,846$71,786$73,726$75,666
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN$58,197$60,137$62,077$64,016$65,956$67,895$69,835$71,775$73,714$75,654
Laredo, TX$58,045$59,979$61,914$63,848$65,783$67,717$69,652$71,586$73,521$75,455
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH$57,963$59,895$61,827$63,759$65,691$67,622$69,554$71,486$73,418$75,350
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV$57,777$59,703$61,628$63,554$65,480$67,405$69,331$71,256$73,182$75,108
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA$57,653$59,575$61,496$63,418$65,339$67,260$69,182$71,103$73,025$74,946
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX$57,453$59,367$61,282$63,197$65,112$67,027$68,941$70,856$72,771$74,686
Colorado Springs, CO$57,357$59,269$61,180$63,092$65,004$66,915$68,827$70,738$72,650$74,561
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL$57,300$59,210$61,119$63,029$64,939$66,848$68,758$70,668$72,577$74,487
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC$57,128$59,032$60,936$62,840$64,744$66,648$68,552$70,456$72,360$74,264
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ$57,080$58,983$60,885$62,787$64,690$66,592$68,494$70,397$72,299$74,202
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT$57,023$58,923$60,824$62,724$64,625$66,525$68,426$70,326$72,227$74,127
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA$57,013$58,914$60,814$62,714$64,614$66,514$68,414$70,314$72,215$74,115
Tucson-Nogales, AZ$56,942$58,840$60,737$62,635$64,533$66,431$68,328$70,226$72,124$74,022
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS$56,794$58,687$60,580$62,472$64,365$66,258$68,151$70,044$71,936$73,829
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL$56,775$58,667$60,559$62,451$64,344$66,236$68,128$70,020$71,912$73,804
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC$56,713$58,603$60,493$62,383$64,273$66,163$68,053$69,944$71,834$73,724
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX$56,703$58,593$60,483$62,373$64,262$66,152$68,042$69,932$71,822$73,711
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM$56,488$58,371$60,254$62,136$64,019$65,902$67,784$69,667$71,549$73,432
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL$56,445$58,327$60,208$62,089$63,970$65,851$67,733$69,614$71,495$73,376
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA$56,441$58,322$60,203$62,084$63,965$65,846$67,727$69,608$71,489$73,370
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN$56,402$58,282$60,162$62,042$63,922$65,801$67,681$69,561$71,441$73,320
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA$56,336$58,213$60,091$61,968$63,846$65,723$67,601$69,478$71,356$73,233
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL$56,297$58,174$60,050$61,926$63,802$65,679$67,555$69,431$71,308$73,184
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY$56,274$58,149$60,024$61,900$63,775$65,651$67,526$69,402$71,277$73,153
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID$56,173$58,045$59,918$61,790$63,662$65,534$67,406$69,278$71,150$73,022
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA$56,164$58,036$59,907$61,779$63,651$65,523$67,395$69,266$71,138$73,010
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX$56,154$58,026$59,897$61,769$63,640$65,512$67,383$69,255$71,126$72,998
Reno-Fernley, NV$56,102$57,971$59,841$61,711$63,581$65,450$67,320$69,190$71,060$72,929
Rest of U.S.$55,882$57,745$59,607$61,469$63,332$65,194$67,057$68,919$70,781$72,644

No GS-8 rate is limited by the cap in any area.

GS-8 hourly and biweekly pay

Hourly and biweekly rates for Rest of U.S., Washington and the largest metro areas, at the first and last step.

GS-8 hourly and biweekly pay in the largest locality pay areas, 2026
Locality pay areaStep 1 hourlyStep 1 biweeklyStep 10 hourlyStep 10 biweekly
Rest of U.S.$26.78$2,142.40$34.81$2,784.80
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$30.64$2,451.20$39.83$3,186.40
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$31.55$2,524.00$41.02$3,281.60
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$31.22$2,497.60$40.58$3,246.40
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$29.93$2,394.40$38.91$3,112.80
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$33.47$2,677.60$43.51$3,480.80

GS-8 step increases

Moving from step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks (18 years) if every increase is on time, and adds $16,762 a year in Rest of U.S. at 2026 rates. Waiting periods follow 5 CFR 531.405; the GS pay calculator dates your own next increase.

GS-8 step increases: waiting period and pay gain
MoveWaitTotal from step 1Base pay gainRest of U.S. gain
Step 1 to 252 weeks52 weeks+$1,591+$1,863
Step 2 to 352 weeks104 weeks+$1,591+$1,862
Step 3 to 452 weeks156 weeks+$1,591+$1,862
Step 4 to 5104 weeks260 weeks+$1,591+$1,863
Step 5 to 6104 weeks364 weeks+$1,591+$1,862
Step 6 to 7104 weeks468 weeks+$1,591+$1,863
Step 7 to 8156 weeks624 weeks+$1,591+$1,862
Step 8 to 9156 weeks780 weeks+$1,591+$1,862
Step 9 to 10156 weeks936 weeks+$1,591+$1,863

Promotion examples

Examples for a step 5 employee in Rest of U.S. under the two-step promotion rule. Your own result depends on your step, locality and pay history.

  • Into GS-8: GS-7 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($57,188) promoted to GS-8 lands at step 4 ($61,469), a raise of $4,281 a year.
  • Out of GS-8: GS-8 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($63,332) promoted to GS-9 lands at step 4 ($67,896), a raise of $4,564 a year.

GS-8 pay questions

How much does a GS-8 make in 2026?

GS-8 base pay is $47,738 at step 1 and $62,057 at step 10. In Rest of U.S. (17.06% locality) the rate is $55,882 to $72,644. Across the 58 locality areas, step 1 ranges from $55,882 (Rest of U.S.) to $69,860 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $72,644 (Rest of U.S.) to $90,814 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

How much does a GS-8 make in Washington, DC?

In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (33.94% locality), GS-8 pay is $63,940 at step 1 and $83,119 at step 10, or $30.64 to $39.83 per hour.

How much does a GS-8 make in San Francisco?

San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA has the highest locality payment in 2026 (46.34%). GS-8 pay there is $69,860 at step 1 and $90,814 at step 10, or $33.47 to $43.51 per hour.

How long does it take to go from GS-8 step 1 to step 10?

Going from GS-8 step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks, or 18 years, with three increases after 52 weeks, three after 104 weeks and three after 156 weeks. Base pay rises $1,591 at every step. In Rest of U.S., pay rises $16,762 a year over that time at 2026 rates ($55,882 to $72,644).

What is the GS-8 hourly rate in 2026?

In Rest of U.S., the GS-8 hourly rate is $26.78 at step 1 and $34.81 at step 10 (annual pay divided by 2,087). The biweekly rate is $2,142.40 to $2,784.80 before deductions. In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA, step 1 is $30.64 per hour.

Will GS-8 pay go up in 2027?

The 2027 federal pay raise is not final and OPM has not published 2027 salary tables, so GS-8 rates on this page are 2026 only. Step increases are separate from the annual raise. See federal pay raise 2027 for the status.

Estimates for planning. Special rates, law enforcement rates and your agency's application of OPM rules can differ. Your SF-50 and your agency HR office are authoritative.