2019 GS-5 Pay in CHICAGO
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 28.05% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $29,350 on the base table to $37,583 in CHICAGO.
2019 GS-5 Pay in CHICAGO
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,583 | $1,445.50 | $18.01 | +$8,233 |
| Step 2 | $38,835 | $1,493.65 | $18.61 | +$8,507 |
| Step 3 | $40,087 | $1,541.81 | $19.21 | +$8,781 |
| Step 4 | $41,340 | $1,590.00 | $19.81 | +$9,056 |
| Step 5 | $42,592 | $1,638.15 | $20.41 | +$9,330 |
| Step 6 | $43,844 | $1,686.31 | $21.01 | +$9,604 |
| Step 7 | $45,097 | $1,734.50 | $21.61 | +$9,879 |
| Step 8 | $46,349 | $1,782.65 | $22.21 | +$10,153 |
| Step 9 | $47,601 | $1,830.81 | $22.81 | +$10,427 |
| Step 10 | $48,854 | $1,879.00 | $23.41 | +$10,702 |
2019 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,583 | $1,445.50 | $18.01 | +$8,233 |
| Step 2 | $38,835 | $1,493.65 | $18.61 | +$8,507 |
| Step 3 | $40,087 | $1,541.81 | $19.21 | +$8,781 |
| Step 4 | $41,340 | $1,590.00 | $19.81 | +$9,056 |
| Step 5 | $42,592 | $1,638.15 | $20.41 | +$9,330 |
| Step 6 | $43,844 | $1,686.31 | $21.01 | +$9,604 |
| Step 7 | $45,097 | $1,734.50 | $21.61 | +$9,879 |
| Step 8 | $46,349 | $1,782.65 | $22.21 | +$10,153 |
| Step 9 | $47,601 | $1,830.81 | $22.81 | +$10,427 |
| Step 10 | $48,854 | $1,879.00 | $23.41 | +$10,702 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more CHICAGO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in CHICAGO: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2019, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 28.05% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-5 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.
Promotion path. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.
The rough military equivalent for GS-5 is E-6 Staff Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-5 in CHICAGO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $1,446 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,879. 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-5 CHICAGO page.
Other grades in CHICAGO
GS-5 in CHICAGO questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in CHICAGO?
In 2019, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $37,583 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $48,854. This is 28.05% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 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-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,233 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in CHICAGO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $1,446 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.