2023 GS-8 Pay in Chicago
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 29.79% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $44,389 on the base table to $57,612 in Chicago.
2023 GS-8 Pay in Chicago
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $57,612 | $2,215.85 | $27.61 | +$13,223 |
| Step 2 | $59,533 | $2,289.73 | $28.53 | +$13,664 |
| Step 3 | $61,454 | $2,363.62 | $29.45 | +$14,105 |
| Step 4 | $63,375 | $2,437.50 | $30.37 | +$14,546 |
| Step 5 | $65,296 | $2,511.38 | $31.29 | +$14,987 |
| Step 6 | $67,217 | $2,585.27 | $32.21 | +$15,428 |
| Step 7 | $69,138 | $2,659.15 | $33.13 | +$15,869 |
| Step 8 | $71,059 | $2,733.04 | $34.05 | +$16,310 |
| Step 9 | $72,980 | $2,806.92 | $34.97 | +$16,751 |
| Step 10 | $74,901 | $2,880.81 | $35.89 | +$17,192 |
2023 GS-8 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-8 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $57,612 | $2,215.85 | $27.61 | +$13,223 |
| Step 2 | $59,533 | $2,289.73 | $28.53 | +$13,664 |
| Step 3 | $61,454 | $2,363.62 | $29.45 | +$14,105 |
| Step 4 | $63,375 | $2,437.50 | $30.37 | +$14,546 |
| Step 5 | $65,296 | $2,511.38 | $31.29 | +$14,987 |
| Step 6 | $67,217 | $2,585.27 | $32.21 | +$15,428 |
| Step 7 | $69,138 | $2,659.15 | $33.13 | +$15,869 |
| Step 8 | $71,059 | $2,733.04 | $34.05 | +$16,310 |
| Step 9 | $72,980 | $2,806.92 | $34.97 | +$16,751 |
| Step 10 | $74,901 | $2,880.81 | $35.89 | +$17,192 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Chicago pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Chicago: what to expect
Senior technicians, investigators and lead administrative support. Less common than GS-7 or GS-9, often reserved for specialized technical work.
For 2023, the Chicago pay area adds a 29.79% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-8 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-7 level.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-9 after one year in grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-8 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-8 in Chicago
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $2,216 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,881. 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-8 Chicago page.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-8 in Chicago questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Chicago?
In 2023, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $57,612 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $74,901. This is 29.79% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 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-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,223 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Chicago?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $2,216 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.