2024 GS-5 Pay in Chicago
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.41% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $33,878 on the base table to $44,180 in Chicago.
2024 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 | $44,180 | $1,699.23 | $21.17 | +$10,302 |
| Step 2 | $45,653 | $1,755.88 | $21.87 | +$10,646 |
| Step 3 | $47,125 | $1,812.50 | $22.58 | +$10,989 |
| Step 4 | $48,597 | $1,869.12 | $23.29 | +$11,332 |
| Step 5 | $50,070 | $1,925.77 | $23.99 | +$11,676 |
| Step 6 | $51,542 | $1,982.38 | $24.70 | +$12,019 |
| Step 7 | $53,014 | $2,039.00 | $25.40 | +$12,362 |
| Step 8 | $54,487 | $2,095.65 | $26.11 | +$12,706 |
| Step 9 | $55,959 | $2,152.27 | $26.81 | +$13,049 |
| Step 10 | $57,431 | $2,208.88 | $27.52 | +$13,392 |
2024 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $44,180 | $1,699.23 | $21.17 | +$10,302 |
| Step 2 | $45,653 | $1,755.88 | $21.87 | +$10,646 |
| Step 3 | $47,125 | $1,812.50 | $22.58 | +$10,989 |
| Step 4 | $48,597 | $1,869.12 | $23.29 | +$11,332 |
| Step 5 | $50,070 | $1,925.77 | $23.99 | +$11,676 |
| Step 6 | $51,542 | $1,982.38 | $24.70 | +$12,019 |
| Step 7 | $53,014 | $2,039.00 | $25.40 | +$12,362 |
| Step 8 | $54,487 | $2,095.65 | $26.11 | +$12,706 |
| Step 9 | $55,959 | $2,152.27 | $26.81 | +$13,049 |
| Step 10 | $57,431 | $2,208.88 | $27.52 | +$13,392 |
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 2024, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.41% 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 $1,699 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,209. 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-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 2024, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $44,180 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $57,431. This is 30.41% 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 2024, it is 30.41%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,302 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 $1,699 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.