2024 GS-12 Pay in Chicago
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.41% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $74,441 on the base table to $97,079 in Chicago.
2024 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 | $97,079 | $3,733.81 | $46.52 | +$22,638 |
| Step 2 | $100,314 | $3,858.23 | $48.07 | +$23,392 |
| Step 3 | $103,549 | $3,982.65 | $49.62 | +$24,146 |
| Step 4 | $106,785 | $4,107.12 | $51.17 | +$24,901 |
| Step 5 | $110,020 | $4,231.54 | $52.72 | +$25,655 |
| Step 6 | $113,256 | $4,356.00 | $54.27 | +$26,410 |
| Step 7 | $116,491 | $4,480.42 | $55.82 | +$27,164 |
| Step 8 | $119,727 | $4,604.88 | $57.37 | +$27,919 |
| Step 9 | $122,962 | $4,729.31 | $58.92 | +$28,673 |
| Step 10 | $126,198 | $4,853.77 | $60.47 | +$29,428 |
2024 GS-12 pay table for Chicago
Each step below already includes the 30.41% 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 | $97,079 | $3,733.81 | $46.52 | +$22,638 |
| Step 2 | $100,314 | $3,858.23 | $48.07 | +$23,392 |
| Step 3 | $103,549 | $3,982.65 | $49.62 | +$24,146 |
| Step 4 | $106,785 | $4,107.12 | $51.17 | +$24,901 |
| Step 5 | $110,020 | $4,231.54 | $52.72 | +$25,655 |
| Step 6 | $113,256 | $4,356.00 | $54.27 | +$26,410 |
| Step 7 | $116,491 | $4,480.42 | $55.82 | +$27,164 |
| Step 8 | $119,727 | $4,604.88 | $57.37 | +$27,919 |
| Step 9 | $122,962 | $4,729.31 | $58.92 | +$28,673 |
| Step 10 | $126,198 | $4,853.77 | $60.47 | +$29,428 |
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 2024, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.41% 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 $3,734 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,854. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2024 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 2024, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $97,079 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $126,198. This is 30.41% 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 2024, it is 30.41%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $22,638 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 $3,734 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.