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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$47,547 GS-8 Step 1 in CHICAGO (2014)
$61,812 GS-8 Step 10 in CHICAGO (2014)
+$9,540 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2014 GS-8 pay table for CHICAGO

Each step below already includes the 25.10% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-8 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $47,547 $1,828.73 $22.78 +$9,540
Step 2 $49,132 $1,889.69 $23.54 +$9,858
Step 3 $50,717 $1,950.65 $24.30 +$10,176
Step 4 $52,302 $2,011.62 $25.06 +$10,494
Step 5 $53,887 $2,072.58 $25.82 +$10,812
Step 6 $55,472 $2,133.54 $26.58 +$11,130
Step 7 $57,057 $2,194.50 $27.34 +$11,448
Step 8 $58,642 $2,255.46 $28.10 +$11,766
Step 9 $60,227 $2,316.42 $28.86 +$12,084
Step 10 $61,812 $2,377.38 $29.62 +$12,402
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more CHICAGO pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $38,007
  • CHICAGO GS-8 Step 1 $47,547
  • Locality add-on +$9,540
  • Adjustment percent 25.10%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $49,410
  • CHICAGO GS-8 Step 10 $61,812

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-8 in CHICAGO: what to expect

Senior technicians, investigators and lead administrative support. Less common than GS-7 or GS-9, often reserved for specialized technical work.

For 2014, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 25.10% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-8 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.

Promotion path. Promoted to GS-9 after one year in grade.

The rough military equivalent for GS-8 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-8 in CHICAGO

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $1,829 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,377. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2014 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-8 CHICAGO page.

Other grades in CHICAGO

GS-8 in CHICAGO questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in CHICAGO?
    In 2014, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $47,547 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $61,812. This is 25.10% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in CHICAGO?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For CHICAGO in 2014, it is 25.10%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,540 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in CHICAGO?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $1,829 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.