2020 GS-5 Pay in CHICAGO
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 28.59% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $30,113 on the base table to $38,722 in CHICAGO.
2020 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 | $38,722 | $1,489.31 | $18.55 | +$8,609 |
| Step 2 | $40,013 | $1,538.96 | $19.17 | +$8,896 |
| Step 3 | $41,304 | $1,588.62 | $19.79 | +$9,183 |
| Step 4 | $42,595 | $1,638.27 | $20.41 | +$9,470 |
| Step 5 | $43,886 | $1,687.92 | $21.03 | +$9,757 |
| Step 6 | $45,178 | $1,737.62 | $21.65 | +$10,045 |
| Step 7 | $46,469 | $1,787.27 | $22.27 | +$10,332 |
| Step 8 | $47,760 | $1,836.92 | $22.88 | +$10,619 |
| Step 9 | $49,051 | $1,886.58 | $23.50 | +$10,906 |
| Step 10 | $50,342 | $1,936.23 | $24.12 | +$11,193 |
2020 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $38,722 | $1,489.31 | $18.55 | +$8,609 |
| Step 2 | $40,013 | $1,538.96 | $19.17 | +$8,896 |
| Step 3 | $41,304 | $1,588.62 | $19.79 | +$9,183 |
| Step 4 | $42,595 | $1,638.27 | $20.41 | +$9,470 |
| Step 5 | $43,886 | $1,687.92 | $21.03 | +$9,757 |
| Step 6 | $45,178 | $1,737.62 | $21.65 | +$10,045 |
| Step 7 | $46,469 | $1,787.27 | $22.27 | +$10,332 |
| Step 8 | $47,760 | $1,836.92 | $22.88 | +$10,619 |
| Step 9 | $49,051 | $1,886.58 | $23.50 | +$10,906 |
| Step 10 | $50,342 | $1,936.23 | $24.12 | +$11,193 |
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 2020, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 28.59% 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 $1,489 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,936. 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-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 2020, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $38,722 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $50,342. This is 28.59% 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 2020, it is 28.59%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,609 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 $1,489 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.