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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$55,905 GS-9 Step 1 in CHICAGO (2018)
$72,677 GS-9 Step 10 in CHICAGO (2018)
+$12,048 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2018 GS-9 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-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $55,905 $2,150.19 $26.79 +$12,048
Step 2 $57,768 $2,221.85 $27.68 +$12,449
Step 3 $59,632 $2,293.54 $28.57 +$12,851
Step 4 $61,495 $2,365.19 $29.47 +$13,252
Step 5 $63,359 $2,436.88 $30.36 +$13,654
Step 6 $65,223 $2,508.58 $31.25 +$14,056
Step 7 $67,086 $2,580.23 $32.14 +$14,457
Step 8 $68,950 $2,651.92 $33.04 +$14,859
Step 9 $70,813 $2,723.58 $33.93 +$15,260
Step 10 $72,677 $2,795.27 $34.82 +$15,662
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more CHICAGO pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $43,857
  • CHICAGO GS-9 Step 1 $55,905
  • Locality add-on +$12,048
  • Adjustment percent 27.47%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $57,015
  • CHICAGO GS-9 Step 10 $72,677

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 2018, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 27.47% 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 $2,150 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,795. 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-9 CHICAGO page.

Other grades in CHICAGO

GS-9 in CHICAGO questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in CHICAGO?
    In 2018, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $55,905 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $72,677. This is 27.47% 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 2018, it is 27.47%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,048 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 $2,150 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.