GS-8 Pay in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
$63,944 – $83,123 per year • 33.94% locality adjustment
GS-8 Salary Summary — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Complete GS-8 Pay Table — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $63,944 | $5,329 | $2,459 | $30.64 | $47,741 | +$16,203 |
| Step 2 | $66,075 | $5,506 | $2,541 | $31.66 | $49,332 | +$16,743 |
| Step 3 | $68,206 | $5,684 | $2,623 | $32.68 | $50,923 | +$17,283 |
| Step 4 | $70,337 | $5,861 | $2,705 | $33.70 | $52,514 | +$17,823 |
| Step 5 | $72,468 | $6,039 | $2,787 | $34.72 | $54,105 | +$18,363 |
| Step 6 | $74,599 | $6,217 | $2,869 | $35.74 | $55,696 | +$18,903 |
| Step 7 | $76,730 | $6,394 | $2,951 | $36.77 | $57,287 | +$19,443 |
| Step 8 | $78,861 | $6,572 | $3,033 | $37.79 | $58,878 | +$19,983 |
| Step 9 | $80,992 | $6,749 | $3,115 | $38.81 | $60,469 | +$20,523 |
| Step 10 | $83,123 | $6,927 | $3,197 | $39.83 | $62,060 | +$21,063 |
Compare Nearby Grades in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
How does GS-8 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-7 to GS-8 at Step 5 in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA is a raise of $7,032 per year.
GS-8 Federal Jobs in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Federal employees at GS-8 in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area earn between $63,944 and $83,123 annually in 2026. This includes a 33.94% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-8 base pay of $47,741 to $62,060.
The Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area covers District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. At Step 5, a GS-8 employee here earns $9,133 more per year than the same grade and step under the "Rest of United States" rate (17.06%).
As one of the higher-paying locality areas, Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA compensates for the higher cost of living in the region. Federal employees considering a move should compare not just the salary difference but also housing costs, state income taxes, and commuting expenses.
The biweekly pay for a GS-8 Step 1 in this area is $2,459, or approximately $30.64 per hour based on the standard 2,087-hour work year. Step increases are automatic with acceptable performance — it takes 18 years to progress from Step 1 to Step 10.
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