2021 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 $66,829 on the base table to $85,935 in CHICAGO.
2021 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 | $85,935 | $3,305.19 | $41.18 | +$19,106 |
| Step 2 | $88,800 | $3,415.38 | $42.55 | +$19,743 |
| Step 3 | $91,665 | $3,525.58 | $43.92 | +$20,380 |
| Step 4 | $94,530 | $3,635.77 | $45.29 | +$21,017 |
| Step 5 | $97,395 | $3,745.96 | $46.67 | +$21,654 |
| Step 6 | $100,260 | $3,856.15 | $48.04 | +$22,291 |
| Step 7 | $103,125 | $3,966.35 | $49.41 | +$22,928 |
| Step 8 | $105,990 | $4,076.54 | $50.79 | +$23,565 |
| Step 9 | $108,855 | $4,186.73 | $52.16 | +$24,202 |
| Step 10 | $111,720 | $4,296.92 | $53.53 | +$24,839 |
2021 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 | $85,935 | $3,305.19 | $41.18 | +$19,106 |
| Step 2 | $88,800 | $3,415.38 | $42.55 | +$19,743 |
| Step 3 | $91,665 | $3,525.58 | $43.92 | +$20,380 |
| Step 4 | $94,530 | $3,635.77 | $45.29 | +$21,017 |
| Step 5 | $97,395 | $3,745.96 | $46.67 | +$21,654 |
| Step 6 | $100,260 | $3,856.15 | $48.04 | +$22,291 |
| Step 7 | $103,125 | $3,966.35 | $49.41 | +$22,928 |
| Step 8 | $105,990 | $4,076.54 | $50.79 | +$23,565 |
| Step 9 | $108,855 | $4,186.73 | $52.16 | +$24,202 |
| Step 10 | $111,720 | $4,296.92 | $53.53 | +$24,839 |
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 2021, 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 $3,305 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,297. 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-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 2021, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $85,935 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $111,720. 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 2021, it is 28.59%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,106 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 $3,305 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.