2020 GS-15 Pay in CHICAGO
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 28.59% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $109,366 on the base table to $140,634 in CHICAGO.
2020 GS-15 Pay in CHICAGO
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $140,634 | $5,409.00 | $67.39 | +$31,268 |
| Step 2 | $145,322 | $5,589.31 | $69.63 | +$32,310 |
| Step 3 | $150,011 | $5,769.65 | $71.88 | +$33,353 |
| Step 4 | $154,699 | $5,949.96 | $74.13 | +$34,395 |
| Step 5 | $159,387 | $6,130.27 | $76.37 | +$35,437 |
| Step 6 | $164,076 | $6,310.62 | $78.62 | +$36,480 |
| Step 7 | $168,764 | $6,490.92 | $80.86 | +$37,522 |
| Step 8 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$35,912 |
| Step 9 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$32,266 |
| Step 10 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$28,620 |
2020 GS-15 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-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $140,634 | $5,409.00 | $67.39 | +$31,268 |
| Step 2 | $145,322 | $5,589.31 | $69.63 | +$32,310 |
| Step 3 | $150,011 | $5,769.65 | $71.88 | +$33,353 |
| Step 4 | $154,699 | $5,949.96 | $74.13 | +$34,395 |
| Step 5 | $159,387 | $6,130.27 | $76.37 | +$35,437 |
| Step 6 | $164,076 | $6,310.62 | $78.62 | +$36,480 |
| Step 7 | $168,764 | $6,490.92 | $80.86 | +$37,522 |
| Step 8 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$35,912 |
| Step 9 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$32,266 |
| Step 10 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$28,620 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more CHICAGO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in CHICAGO: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2020, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 28.59% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in CHICAGO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $5,409 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,569. 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-15 CHICAGO page.
Other grades in CHICAGO
GS-15 in CHICAGO questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in CHICAGO?
In 2020, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $140,634 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $170,800. This is 28.59% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 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-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $31,268 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in CHICAGO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $5,409 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.