2023 GS-5 Pay in Chicago
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 29.79% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $32,357 on the base table to $41,996 in Chicago.
2023 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 | $41,996 | $1,615.23 | $20.12 | +$9,639 |
| Step 2 | $43,397 | $1,669.12 | $20.79 | +$9,961 |
| Step 3 | $44,797 | $1,722.96 | $21.46 | +$10,282 |
| Step 4 | $46,197 | $1,776.81 | $22.14 | +$10,603 |
| Step 5 | $47,598 | $1,830.69 | $22.81 | +$10,925 |
| Step 6 | $48,998 | $1,884.54 | $23.48 | +$11,246 |
| Step 7 | $50,399 | $1,938.42 | $24.15 | +$11,568 |
| Step 8 | $51,799 | $1,992.27 | $24.82 | +$11,889 |
| Step 9 | $53,200 | $2,046.15 | $25.49 | +$12,211 |
| Step 10 | $54,600 | $2,100.00 | $26.16 | +$12,532 |
2023 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,996 | $1,615.23 | $20.12 | +$9,639 |
| Step 2 | $43,397 | $1,669.12 | $20.79 | +$9,961 |
| Step 3 | $44,797 | $1,722.96 | $21.46 | +$10,282 |
| Step 4 | $46,197 | $1,776.81 | $22.14 | +$10,603 |
| Step 5 | $47,598 | $1,830.69 | $22.81 | +$10,925 |
| Step 6 | $48,998 | $1,884.54 | $23.48 | +$11,246 |
| Step 7 | $50,399 | $1,938.42 | $24.15 | +$11,568 |
| Step 8 | $51,799 | $1,992.27 | $24.82 | +$11,889 |
| Step 9 | $53,200 | $2,046.15 | $25.49 | +$12,211 |
| Step 10 | $54,600 | $2,100.00 | $26.16 | +$12,532 |
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 2023, the Chicago pay area adds a 29.79% 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 $1,615 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,100. 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-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 2023, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $41,996 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,600. This is 29.79% 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 2023, it is 29.79%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,639 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 $1,615 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.