2016 GS-15 Pay in CHICAGO
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 25.44% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $102,646 on the base table to $128,759 in CHICAGO.
2016 GS-15 Pay in CHICAGO
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $128,759 | $4,952.27 | $61.70 | +$26,113 |
| Step 2 | $133,052 | $5,117.38 | $63.75 | +$26,984 |
| Step 3 | $137,344 | $5,282.46 | $65.81 | +$27,854 |
| Step 4 | $141,637 | $5,447.58 | $67.87 | +$28,725 |
| Step 5 | $145,929 | $5,612.65 | $69.92 | +$29,595 |
| Step 6 | $150,222 | $5,777.77 | $71.98 | +$30,466 |
| Step 7 | $154,514 | $5,942.85 | $74.04 | +$31,336 |
| Step 8 | $158,807 | $6,107.96 | $76.09 | +$32,207 |
| Step 9 | $160,300 | $6,165.38 | $76.81 | +$30,278 |
| Step 10 | $160,300 | $6,165.38 | $76.81 | +$26,856 |
2016 GS-15 pay table for CHICAGO
Each step below already includes the 25.44% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $128,759 | $4,952.27 | $61.70 | +$26,113 |
| Step 2 | $133,052 | $5,117.38 | $63.75 | +$26,984 |
| Step 3 | $137,344 | $5,282.46 | $65.81 | +$27,854 |
| Step 4 | $141,637 | $5,447.58 | $67.87 | +$28,725 |
| Step 5 | $145,929 | $5,612.65 | $69.92 | +$29,595 |
| Step 6 | $150,222 | $5,777.77 | $71.98 | +$30,466 |
| Step 7 | $154,514 | $5,942.85 | $74.04 | +$31,336 |
| Step 8 | $158,807 | $6,107.96 | $76.09 | +$32,207 |
| Step 9 | $160,300 | $6,165.38 | $76.81 | +$30,278 |
| Step 10 | $160,300 | $6,165.38 | $76.81 | +$26,856 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more CHICAGO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in CHICAGO: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2016, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 25.44% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in CHICAGO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $4,952 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,165. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2016 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-15 CHICAGO page.
Other grades in CHICAGO
GS-15 in CHICAGO questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in CHICAGO?
In 2016, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $128,759 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $160,300. This is 25.44% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in CHICAGO?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For CHICAGO in 2016, it is 25.44%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $26,113 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in CHICAGO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $4,952 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.