2023 GS-12 Pay in Chicago
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 29.79% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $71,099 on the base table to $92,279 in Chicago.
2023 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 | $92,279 | $3,549.19 | $44.22 | +$21,180 |
| Step 2 | $95,355 | $3,667.50 | $45.69 | +$21,886 |
| Step 3 | $98,431 | $3,785.81 | $47.16 | +$22,592 |
| Step 4 | $101,507 | $3,904.12 | $48.64 | +$23,298 |
| Step 5 | $104,583 | $4,022.42 | $50.11 | +$24,004 |
| Step 6 | $107,660 | $4,140.77 | $51.59 | +$24,711 |
| Step 7 | $110,736 | $4,259.08 | $53.06 | +$25,417 |
| Step 8 | $113,812 | $4,377.38 | $54.53 | +$26,123 |
| Step 9 | $116,888 | $4,495.69 | $56.01 | +$26,829 |
| Step 10 | $119,964 | $4,614.00 | $57.48 | +$27,535 |
2023 GS-12 pay table for Chicago
Each step below already includes the 29.79% 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 | $92,279 | $3,549.19 | $44.22 | +$21,180 |
| Step 2 | $95,355 | $3,667.50 | $45.69 | +$21,886 |
| Step 3 | $98,431 | $3,785.81 | $47.16 | +$22,592 |
| Step 4 | $101,507 | $3,904.12 | $48.64 | +$23,298 |
| Step 5 | $104,583 | $4,022.42 | $50.11 | +$24,004 |
| Step 6 | $107,660 | $4,140.77 | $51.59 | +$24,711 |
| Step 7 | $110,736 | $4,259.08 | $53.06 | +$25,417 |
| Step 8 | $113,812 | $4,377.38 | $54.53 | +$26,123 |
| Step 9 | $116,888 | $4,495.69 | $56.01 | +$26,829 |
| Step 10 | $119,964 | $4,614.00 | $57.48 | +$27,535 |
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 2023, the Chicago pay area adds a 29.79% 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 $3,549 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,614. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2023 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-12 Chicago page.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-12 in Chicago questions
-
How much does a GS-12 make in Chicago?
In 2023, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $92,279 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $119,964. This is 29.79% 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 2023, it is 29.79%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $21,180 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 $3,549 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.