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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$54,864 GS-9 Step 1 in CHICAGO (2017)
$71,326 GS-9 Step 10 in CHICAGO (2017)
+$11,613 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2017 GS-9 pay table for CHICAGO

Each step below already includes the 26.85% 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 $54,864 $2,110.15 $26.29 +$11,613
Step 2 $56,693 $2,180.50 $27.16 +$12,000
Step 3 $58,522 $2,250.85 $28.04 +$12,387
Step 4 $60,351 $2,321.19 $28.92 +$12,774
Step 5 $62,181 $2,391.58 $29.79 +$13,162
Step 6 $64,010 $2,461.92 $30.67 +$13,549
Step 7 $65,839 $2,532.27 $31.55 +$13,936
Step 8 $67,668 $2,602.62 $32.42 +$14,323
Step 9 $69,497 $2,672.96 $33.30 +$14,710
Step 10 $71,326 $2,743.31 $34.18 +$15,097
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more CHICAGO pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $43,251
  • CHICAGO GS-9 Step 1 $54,864
  • Locality add-on +$11,613
  • Adjustment percent 26.85%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $56,229
  • CHICAGO GS-9 Step 10 $71,326

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 2017, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 26.85% 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 $2,110 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,743. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2017 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 2017, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $54,864 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $71,326. This is 26.85% 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 2017, it is 26.85%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,613 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 $2,110 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.