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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$59,258 GS-9 Step 1 in CHICAGO (2021)
$77,034 GS-9 Step 10 in CHICAGO (2021)
+$13,175 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 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 $59,258 $2,279.15 $28.39 +$13,175
Step 2 $61,233 $2,355.12 $29.34 +$13,614
Step 3 $63,208 $2,431.08 $30.29 +$14,053
Step 4 $65,184 $2,507.08 $31.23 +$14,493
Step 5 $67,159 $2,583.04 $32.18 +$14,932
Step 6 $69,134 $2,659.00 $33.13 +$15,371
Step 7 $71,109 $2,734.96 $34.07 +$15,810
Step 8 $73,084 $2,810.92 $35.02 +$16,249
Step 9 $75,059 $2,886.88 $35.97 +$16,688
Step 10 $77,034 $2,962.85 $36.91 +$17,127
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more CHICAGO pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $46,083
  • CHICAGO GS-9 Step 1 $59,258
  • Locality add-on +$13,175
  • Adjustment percent 28.59%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $59,907
  • CHICAGO GS-9 Step 10 $77,034

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 2021, 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 $2,279 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,963. 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-9 CHICAGO page.

Other grades in CHICAGO

GS-9 in CHICAGO questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in CHICAGO?
    In 2021, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in CHICAGO earns $59,258 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $77,034. 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 2021, it is 28.59%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,175 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 $2,279 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.