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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$53,041 GS-9 Step 1 in CHICAGO (2015)
$68,950 GS-9 Step 10 in CHICAGO (2015)
+$10,642 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2015 GS-9 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-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $53,041 $2,040.04 $25.41 +$10,642
Step 2 $54,809 $2,108.04 $26.26 +$10,997
Step 3 $56,576 $2,176.00 $27.11 +$11,351
Step 4 $58,344 $2,244.00 $27.96 +$11,706
Step 5 $60,112 $2,312.00 $28.80 +$12,061
Step 6 $61,879 $2,379.96 $29.65 +$12,415
Step 7 $63,647 $2,447.96 $30.50 +$12,770
Step 8 $65,415 $2,515.96 $31.34 +$13,125
Step 9 $67,182 $2,583.92 $32.19 +$13,479
Step 10 $68,950 $2,651.92 $33.04 +$13,834
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more CHICAGO pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $42,399
  • CHICAGO GS-9 Step 1 $53,041
  • Locality add-on +$10,642
  • Adjustment percent 25.10%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $55,116
  • CHICAGO GS-9 Step 10 $68,950

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-9 in CHICAGO: what to expect

Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.

For 2015, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 25.10% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-9 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A master's degree or equivalent graduate education, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.

Promotion path. Career-ladder promotion to GS-11 after one year of specialized GS-9 experience.

The rough military equivalent for GS-9 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-9 in CHICAGO

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $2,040 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,652. 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-9 CHICAGO page.

Other grades in CHICAGO

GS-9 in CHICAGO questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in CHICAGO?
    In 2015, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $53,041 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $68,950. This is 25.10% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 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-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,642 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in CHICAGO?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $2,040 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.