An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$58,672 GS-9 Step 1 in CHICAGO (2020)
$76,274 GS-9 Step 10 in CHICAGO (2020)
+$13,045 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2020 GS-9 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-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $58,672 $2,256.62 $28.11 +$13,045
Step 2 $60,628 $2,331.85 $29.05 +$13,480
Step 3 $62,583 $2,407.04 $29.99 +$13,914
Step 4 $64,539 $2,482.27 $30.92 +$14,349
Step 5 $66,495 $2,557.50 $31.86 +$14,784
Step 6 $68,451 $2,632.73 $32.80 +$15,219
Step 7 $70,407 $2,707.96 $33.74 +$15,654
Step 8 $72,363 $2,783.19 $34.67 +$16,089
Step 9 $74,319 $2,858.42 $35.61 +$16,524
Step 10 $76,274 $2,933.62 $36.55 +$16,958
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more CHICAGO pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $45,627
  • CHICAGO GS-9 Step 1 $58,672
  • Locality add-on +$13,045
  • Adjustment percent 28.59%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $59,316
  • CHICAGO GS-9 Step 10 $76,274

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-9 in CHICAGO: what to expect

Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.

For 2020, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 28.59% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-9 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A master's degree or equivalent graduate education, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.

Promotion path. Career-ladder promotion to GS-11 after one year of specialized GS-9 experience.

The rough military equivalent for GS-9 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-9 in CHICAGO

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $2,257 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,934. 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-9 CHICAGO page.

Other grades in CHICAGO

GS-9 in CHICAGO questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in CHICAGO?
    In 2020, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $58,672 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $76,274. This is 28.59% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 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-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,045 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in CHICAGO?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $2,257 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.