2015 GS-5 Pay in CHICAGO
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 25.10% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $27,982 on the base table to $35,005 in CHICAGO.
2015 GS-5 Pay in CHICAGO
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $35,005 | $1,346.35 | $16.77 | +$7,023 |
| Step 2 | $36,173 | $1,391.27 | $17.33 | +$7,258 |
| Step 3 | $37,340 | $1,436.15 | $17.89 | +$7,492 |
| Step 4 | $38,507 | $1,481.04 | $18.45 | +$7,726 |
| Step 5 | $39,674 | $1,525.92 | $19.01 | +$7,960 |
| Step 6 | $40,841 | $1,570.81 | $19.57 | +$8,194 |
| Step 7 | $42,009 | $1,615.73 | $20.13 | +$8,429 |
| Step 8 | $43,176 | $1,660.62 | $20.69 | +$8,663 |
| Step 9 | $44,343 | $1,705.50 | $21.25 | +$8,897 |
| Step 10 | $45,510 | $1,750.38 | $21.81 | +$9,131 |
2015 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $35,005 | $1,346.35 | $16.77 | +$7,023 |
| Step 2 | $36,173 | $1,391.27 | $17.33 | +$7,258 |
| Step 3 | $37,340 | $1,436.15 | $17.89 | +$7,492 |
| Step 4 | $38,507 | $1,481.04 | $18.45 | +$7,726 |
| Step 5 | $39,674 | $1,525.92 | $19.01 | +$7,960 |
| Step 6 | $40,841 | $1,570.81 | $19.57 | +$8,194 |
| Step 7 | $42,009 | $1,615.73 | $20.13 | +$8,429 |
| Step 8 | $43,176 | $1,660.62 | $20.69 | +$8,663 |
| Step 9 | $44,343 | $1,705.50 | $21.25 | +$8,897 |
| Step 10 | $45,510 | $1,750.38 | $21.81 | +$9,131 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more CHICAGO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in CHICAGO: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2015, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 25.10% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-5 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.
Promotion path. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.
The rough military equivalent for GS-5 is E-6 Staff Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-5 in CHICAGO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $1,346 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,750. 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-5 CHICAGO page.
Other grades in CHICAGO
GS-5 in CHICAGO questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in CHICAGO?
In 2015, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $35,005 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $45,510. This is 25.10% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 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-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,023 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in CHICAGO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $1,346 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.