2020 GS-12 Pay in CHICAGO
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 28.59% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $66,167 on the base table to $85,084 in CHICAGO.
2020 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 | $85,084 | $3,272.46 | $40.77 | +$18,917 |
| Step 2 | $87,921 | $3,381.58 | $42.13 | +$19,548 |
| Step 3 | $90,758 | $3,490.69 | $43.49 | +$20,179 |
| Step 4 | $93,594 | $3,599.77 | $44.85 | +$20,809 |
| Step 5 | $96,431 | $3,708.88 | $46.21 | +$21,440 |
| Step 6 | $99,268 | $3,818.00 | $47.56 | +$22,071 |
| Step 7 | $102,104 | $3,927.08 | $48.92 | +$22,701 |
| Step 8 | $104,941 | $4,036.19 | $50.28 | +$23,332 |
| Step 9 | $107,778 | $4,145.31 | $51.64 | +$23,963 |
| Step 10 | $110,614 | $4,254.38 | $53.00 | +$24,593 |
2020 GS-12 pay table for CHICAGO
Each step below already includes the 28.59% 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 | $85,084 | $3,272.46 | $40.77 | +$18,917 |
| Step 2 | $87,921 | $3,381.58 | $42.13 | +$19,548 |
| Step 3 | $90,758 | $3,490.69 | $43.49 | +$20,179 |
| Step 4 | $93,594 | $3,599.77 | $44.85 | +$20,809 |
| Step 5 | $96,431 | $3,708.88 | $46.21 | +$21,440 |
| Step 6 | $99,268 | $3,818.00 | $47.56 | +$22,071 |
| Step 7 | $102,104 | $3,927.08 | $48.92 | +$22,701 |
| Step 8 | $104,941 | $4,036.19 | $50.28 | +$23,332 |
| Step 9 | $107,778 | $4,145.31 | $51.64 | +$23,963 |
| Step 10 | $110,614 | $4,254.38 | $53.00 | +$24,593 |
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 2020, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 28.59% 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 $3,272 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,254. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2020 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 2020, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $85,084 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $110,614. This is 28.59% 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 2020, it is 28.59%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,917 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 $3,272 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.