2022 GS-12 Pay in Chicago
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 29.18% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $68,299 on the base table to $88,229 in Chicago.
2022 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 | $88,229 | $3,393.42 | $42.28 | +$19,930 |
| Step 2 | $91,170 | $3,506.54 | $43.68 | +$20,594 |
| Step 3 | $94,112 | $3,619.69 | $45.09 | +$21,259 |
| Step 4 | $97,053 | $3,732.81 | $46.50 | +$21,923 |
| Step 5 | $99,994 | $3,845.92 | $47.91 | +$22,587 |
| Step 6 | $102,936 | $3,959.08 | $49.32 | +$23,252 |
| Step 7 | $105,877 | $4,072.19 | $50.73 | +$23,916 |
| Step 8 | $108,819 | $4,185.35 | $52.14 | +$24,581 |
| Step 9 | $111,760 | $4,298.46 | $53.55 | +$25,245 |
| Step 10 | $114,702 | $4,411.62 | $54.96 | +$25,910 |
2022 GS-12 pay table for Chicago
Each step below already includes the 29.18% 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 | $88,229 | $3,393.42 | $42.28 | +$19,930 |
| Step 2 | $91,170 | $3,506.54 | $43.68 | +$20,594 |
| Step 3 | $94,112 | $3,619.69 | $45.09 | +$21,259 |
| Step 4 | $97,053 | $3,732.81 | $46.50 | +$21,923 |
| Step 5 | $99,994 | $3,845.92 | $47.91 | +$22,587 |
| Step 6 | $102,936 | $3,959.08 | $49.32 | +$23,252 |
| Step 7 | $105,877 | $4,072.19 | $50.73 | +$23,916 |
| Step 8 | $108,819 | $4,185.35 | $52.14 | +$24,581 |
| Step 9 | $111,760 | $4,298.46 | $53.55 | +$25,245 |
| Step 10 | $114,702 | $4,411.62 | $54.96 | +$25,910 |
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 2022, the Chicago pay area adds a 29.18% 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 $3,393 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,412. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2022 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 2022, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $88,229 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $114,702. This is 29.18% 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 2022, it is 29.18%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,930 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 $3,393 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.