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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$64,174 GS-11 Step 1 in CHICAGO (2015)
$83,427 GS-11 Step 10 in CHICAGO (2015)
+$12,876 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2015 GS-11 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-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $64,174 $2,468.23 $30.75 +$12,876
Step 2 $66,313 $2,550.50 $31.77 +$13,305
Step 3 $68,452 $2,632.77 $32.80 +$13,734
Step 4 $70,591 $2,715.04 $33.82 +$14,163
Step 5 $72,731 $2,797.35 $34.85 +$14,593
Step 6 $74,870 $2,879.62 $35.87 +$15,022
Step 7 $77,009 $2,961.88 $36.90 +$15,451
Step 8 $79,148 $3,044.15 $37.92 +$15,880
Step 9 $81,287 $3,126.42 $38.95 +$16,309
Step 10 $83,427 $3,208.73 $39.97 +$16,739
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more CHICAGO pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $51,298
  • CHICAGO GS-11 Step 1 $64,174
  • Locality add-on +$12,876
  • Adjustment percent 25.10%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $66,688
  • CHICAGO GS-11 Step 10 $83,427

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-11 in CHICAGO: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2015, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 25.10% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-11 in CHICAGO

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $2,468 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,209. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2015 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-11 CHICAGO page.

Other grades in CHICAGO

GS-11 in CHICAGO questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in CHICAGO?
    In 2015, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $64,174 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $83,427. This is 25.10% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in CHICAGO?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For CHICAGO in 2015, it is 25.10%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,876 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in CHICAGO?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $2,468 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.