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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$71,697 GS-11 Step 1 in CHICAGO (2021)
$93,211 GS-11 Step 10 in CHICAGO (2021)
+$15,941 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-11 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-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $71,697 $2,757.58 $34.35 +$15,941
Step 2 $74,087 $2,849.50 $35.50 +$16,472
Step 3 $76,478 $2,941.46 $36.64 +$17,004
Step 4 $78,868 $3,033.38 $37.79 +$17,535
Step 5 $81,259 $3,125.35 $38.94 +$18,067
Step 6 $83,649 $3,217.27 $40.08 +$18,598
Step 7 $86,040 $3,309.23 $41.23 +$19,130
Step 8 $88,430 $3,401.15 $42.37 +$19,661
Step 9 $90,821 $3,493.12 $43.52 +$20,193
Step 10 $93,211 $3,585.04 $44.66 +$20,724
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more CHICAGO pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $55,756
  • CHICAGO GS-11 Step 1 $71,697
  • Locality add-on +$15,941
  • Adjustment percent 28.59%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $72,487
  • CHICAGO GS-11 Step 10 $93,211

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-11 in CHICAGO: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2021, the CHICAGO pay area adds a 28.59% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-11 in CHICAGO

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $2,758 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,585. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2021 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-11 CHICAGO page.

Other grades in CHICAGO

GS-11 in CHICAGO questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in CHICAGO?
    In 2021, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $71,697 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $93,211. This is 28.59% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in CHICAGO?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For CHICAGO in 2021, it is 28.59%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,941 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in CHICAGO?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns roughly $2,758 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.