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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$48,022 GS-8 Step 1 in CHICAGO (2015)
$62,434 GS-8 Step 10 in CHICAGO (2015)
+$9,635 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2015 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 $48,022 $1,847.00 $23.01 +$9,635
Step 2 $49,623 $1,908.58 $23.78 +$9,956
Step 3 $51,225 $1,970.19 $24.54 +$10,278
Step 4 $52,826 $2,031.77 $25.31 +$10,599
Step 5 $54,427 $2,093.35 $26.08 +$10,920
Step 6 $56,029 $2,154.96 $26.85 +$11,242
Step 7 $57,630 $2,216.54 $27.61 +$11,563
Step 8 $59,231 $2,278.12 $28.38 +$11,884
Step 9 $60,832 $2,339.69 $29.15 +$12,205
Step 10 $62,434 $2,401.31 $29.92 +$12,527
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more CHICAGO pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $38,387
  • CHICAGO GS-8 Step 1 $48,022
  • Locality add-on +$9,635
  • Adjustment percent 25.10%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $49,907
  • CHICAGO GS-8 Step 10 $62,434

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 2015, 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 $1,847 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,401. 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-8 CHICAGO page.

Other grades in CHICAGO

GS-8 in CHICAGO questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in CHICAGO?
    In 2015, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $48,022 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $62,434. 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 2015, it is 25.10%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,635 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 $1,847 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.