GS-8 pay scale 2026
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
GS-8 base pay in 2026 runs from $47,738 (step 1) to $62,057 (step 10), before locality pay. The 2026 increase was 1%.
| Locality | Step 1 | Step 4 | Step 7 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | $55,882 | $61,469 | $67,057 | $72,644 |
| Atlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs | $59,095 | $65,003 | $70,912 | $76,820 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | $63,291 | $69,619 | $75,947 | $82,275 |
| Chicago-Naperville | $62,470 | $68,716 | $74,962 | $81,208 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $60,751 | $66,825 | $72,900 | $78,974 |
| Denver-Aurora | $62,308 | $68,537 | $74,767 | $80,997 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | $64,446 | $70,890 | $77,333 | $83,777 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | $65,148 | $71,662 | $78,175 | $84,689 |
| New York-Newark | $65,855 | $72,439 | $79,023 | $85,608 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $63,835 | $70,218 | $76,600 | $82,983 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | $69,860 | $76,845 | $83,829 | $90,814 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | $62,809 | $69,089 | $75,369 | $81,648 |
| Washington, DC | $63,940 | $70,333 | $76,726 | $83,119 |
- Biweekly (26 pay periods)
- $2,459.23
- Monthly
- $5,328.33
- Hourly (2,087 hours)
- $30.64
- Overtime hourly (1.5×, capped for higher grades)
- $45.96
- Est. biweekly take-home (single, no TSP/FEHB)
- $1,949.74
2026 OPM tables: base schedule +1.0%, locality percentages unchanged from 2025. Take-home excludes FERS (0.8%–4.4%), TSP and FEHB deductions.
Other grades
GS-1 · GS-2 · GS-3 · GS-4 · GS-5 · GS-6 · GS-7 · GS-9 · GS-10 · GS-11 · GS-12 · GS-13 · GS-14 · GS-15
Frequently asked questions
How much does a GS-8 make in 2026?
$47,738 to $62,057 on the base schedule, plus locality pay from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to over 45% in San Jose–San Francisco.
How long between GS-8 steps?
Steps 1–4: one year each; steps 4–7: two years each; steps 7–10: three years each, assuming acceptable performance.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.