2019 GS-12 Pay in CHICAGO
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 28.05% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $64,490 on the base table to $82,579 in CHICAGO.
2019 GS-12 Pay in CHICAGO
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $82,579 | $3,176.12 | $39.57 | +$18,089 |
| Step 2 | $85,333 | $3,282.04 | $40.89 | +$18,693 |
| Step 3 | $88,086 | $3,387.92 | $42.21 | +$19,296 |
| Step 4 | $90,839 | $3,493.81 | $43.53 | +$19,899 |
| Step 5 | $93,592 | $3,599.69 | $44.85 | +$20,502 |
| Step 6 | $96,345 | $3,705.58 | $46.16 | +$21,105 |
| Step 7 | $99,098 | $3,811.46 | $47.48 | +$21,708 |
| Step 8 | $101,851 | $3,917.35 | $48.80 | +$22,311 |
| Step 9 | $104,604 | $4,023.23 | $50.12 | +$22,914 |
| Step 10 | $107,357 | $4,129.12 | $51.44 | +$23,517 |
2019 GS-12 pay table for CHICAGO
Each step below already includes the 28.05% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $82,579 | $3,176.12 | $39.57 | +$18,089 |
| Step 2 | $85,333 | $3,282.04 | $40.89 | +$18,693 |
| Step 3 | $88,086 | $3,387.92 | $42.21 | +$19,296 |
| Step 4 | $90,839 | $3,493.81 | $43.53 | +$19,899 |
| Step 5 | $93,592 | $3,599.69 | $44.85 | +$20,502 |
| Step 6 | $96,345 | $3,705.58 | $46.16 | +$21,105 |
| Step 7 | $99,098 | $3,811.46 | $47.48 | +$21,708 |
| Step 8 | $101,851 | $3,917.35 | $48.80 | +$22,311 |
| Step 9 | $104,604 | $4,023.23 | $50.12 | +$22,914 |
| Step 10 | $107,357 | $4,129.12 | $51.44 | +$23,517 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more CHICAGO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in CHICAGO: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2019, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 28.05% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in CHICAGO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $3,176 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,129. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2019 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-12 CHICAGO page.
Other grades in CHICAGO
GS-12 in CHICAGO questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in CHICAGO?
In 2019, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $82,579 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $107,357. This is 28.05% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in CHICAGO?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For CHICAGO in 2019, it is 28.05%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,089 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in CHICAGO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $3,176 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.