GS-8 Pay — Rest of U.S. (2026)
This page shows GS-8 pay in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area for 2026. The Rest of U.S. area adds 17.06% in locality pay on top of the GS-8 base rate.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Bi-weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $55,882 | $26.78 | $2,142.40 |
| Step 2 | $57,745 | $27.67 | $2,213.60 |
| Step 3 | $59,607 | $28.56 | $2,284.80 |
| Step 4 | $61,469 | $29.45 | $2,356.00 |
| Step 5 | $63,332 | $30.35 | $2,428.00 |
| Step 6 | $65,194 | $31.24 | $2,499.20 |
| Step 7 | $67,057 | $32.13 | $2,570.40 |
| Step 8 | $68,919 | $33.02 | $2,641.60 |
| Step 9 | $70,781 | $33.92 | $2,713.60 |
| Step 10 | $72,644 | $34.81 | $2,784.80 |
Locality pay is calculated as the base rate multiplied by one plus the locality percentage, rounded to the nearest dollar.
Check another grade, step or locality
| Base pay (before locality) | $54,102 |
| Rest of U.S. locality | 17.06% |
| Adjusted annual | $63,332 |
| Per month | $5,278 |
| Bi-weekly | $2,428.00 |
| Hourly | $30.35 |
Adjusted = base × (1 + locality %), rounded to the nearest dollar. Hourly = annual ÷ 2087; bi-weekly = hourly × 80.
Related pay tables
- Full Rest of U.S. GS scale
- GS-8 in every locality
- GS-7 in Rest of U.S.
- GS-9 in Rest of U.S.
- GS-8 in Washington-Baltimore
- GS-8 in New York-Newark
- GS-8 in San Jose-San Francisco
Frequently asked questions
How much does GS-8 make in Rest of U.S.?
For 2026, GS-8 in Rest of U.S. ranges from $55,882 at the first step to $72,644 at the top step, with $63,332 near the middle.
How is Rest of U.S. locality pay calculated?
The GS-8 base rate is multiplied by one plus the Rest of U.S. locality percentage of 17.06%, then rounded to the nearest dollar.
What is the 2026 raise?
For 2026, the across-the-board base rate rose while locality percentages were held at their prior-year levels, so the Rest of U.S. rate remained 17.06%.
Is this before or after tax?
The GS-8 figures for Rest of U.S. are gross 2026 amounts, before tax and withholding.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-RUS · effective January 11, 2026 · Rest of U.S., 17.06% locality. Rates current as of July 20, 2026. Reference figures for general information — official pay is set by your agency, DFAS or OPM. See methodology.