2021 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 $30,414 on the base table to $39,109 in CHICAGO.
2021 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 | $39,109 | $1,504.19 | $18.74 | +$8,695 |
| Step 2 | $40,413 | $1,554.35 | $19.36 | +$8,985 |
| Step 3 | $41,717 | $1,604.50 | $19.99 | +$9,275 |
| Step 4 | $43,021 | $1,654.65 | $20.61 | +$9,565 |
| Step 5 | $44,325 | $1,704.81 | $21.24 | +$9,855 |
| Step 6 | $45,629 | $1,754.96 | $21.86 | +$10,145 |
| Step 7 | $46,933 | $1,805.12 | $22.49 | +$10,435 |
| Step 8 | $48,237 | $1,855.27 | $23.11 | +$10,725 |
| Step 9 | $49,541 | $1,905.42 | $23.74 | +$11,015 |
| Step 10 | $50,844 | $1,955.54 | $24.36 | +$11,304 |
2021 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 | $39,109 | $1,504.19 | $18.74 | +$8,695 |
| Step 2 | $40,413 | $1,554.35 | $19.36 | +$8,985 |
| Step 3 | $41,717 | $1,604.50 | $19.99 | +$9,275 |
| Step 4 | $43,021 | $1,654.65 | $20.61 | +$9,565 |
| Step 5 | $44,325 | $1,704.81 | $21.24 | +$9,855 |
| Step 6 | $45,629 | $1,754.96 | $21.86 | +$10,145 |
| Step 7 | $46,933 | $1,805.12 | $22.49 | +$10,435 |
| Step 8 | $48,237 | $1,855.27 | $23.11 | +$10,725 |
| Step 9 | $49,541 | $1,905.42 | $23.74 | +$11,015 |
| Step 10 | $50,844 | $1,955.54 | $24.36 | +$11,304 |
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 2021, 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 $1,504 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,956. 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-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 2021, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $39,109 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $50,844. 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 2021, it is 28.59%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,695 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 $1,504 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.