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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$50,615 GS-8 Step 1 in CHICAGO (2018)
$65,804 GS-8 Step 10 in CHICAGO (2018)
+$10,908 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2018 GS-8 pay table for CHICAGO

Each step below already includes the 27.47% 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 $50,615 $1,946.73 $24.25 +$10,908
Step 2 $52,302 $2,011.62 $25.06 +$11,271
Step 3 $53,990 $2,076.54 $25.87 +$11,635
Step 4 $55,678 $2,141.46 $26.68 +$11,999
Step 5 $57,365 $2,206.35 $27.49 +$12,362
Step 6 $59,053 $2,271.27 $28.30 +$12,726
Step 7 $60,741 $2,336.19 $29.10 +$13,090
Step 8 $62,428 $2,401.08 $29.91 +$13,453
Step 9 $64,116 $2,466.00 $30.72 +$13,817
Step 10 $65,804 $2,530.92 $31.53 +$14,181
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more CHICAGO pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $39,707
  • CHICAGO GS-8 Step 1 $50,615
  • Locality add-on +$10,908
  • Adjustment percent 27.47%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $51,623
  • CHICAGO GS-8 Step 10 $65,804

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 2018, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 27.47% 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 $1,947 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,531. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2018 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 2018, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $50,615 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $65,804. This is 27.47% 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 2018, it is 27.47%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,908 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 $1,947 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.