An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$60,840 GS-9 Step 1 in Chicago (2022)
$79,093 GS-9 Step 10 in Chicago (2022)
+$13,743 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-9 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-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $60,840 $2,340.00 $29.15 +$13,743
Step 2 $62,868 $2,418.00 $30.12 +$14,201
Step 3 $64,896 $2,496.00 $31.10 +$14,659
Step 4 $66,924 $2,574.00 $32.07 +$15,117
Step 5 $68,952 $2,652.00 $33.04 +$15,575
Step 6 $70,981 $2,730.04 $34.01 +$16,034
Step 7 $73,009 $2,808.04 $34.98 +$16,492
Step 8 $75,037 $2,886.04 $35.95 +$16,950
Step 9 $77,065 $2,964.04 $36.93 +$17,408
Step 10 $79,093 $3,042.04 $37.90 +$17,866
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Chicago pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $47,097
  • Chicago GS-9 Step 1 $60,840
  • Locality add-on +$13,743
  • Adjustment percent 29.18%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $61,227
  • Chicago GS-9 Step 10 $79,093

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 2022, the Chicago pay area adds a 29.18% 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 $2,340 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,042. 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-9 Chicago page.

Other grades in Chicago

GS-9 in Chicago questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Chicago?
    In 2022, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $60,840 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $79,093. This is 29.18% 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 2022, it is 29.18%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,743 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 $2,340 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.