2024 GS-6 Pay in Chicago
GS-6 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.41% on top of the base GS-6 pay scale. That means a GS-6 Step 1 salary jumps from $37,765 on the base table to $49,249 in Chicago.
2024 GS-6 Pay in Chicago
Locality-adjusted GS-6 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $49,249 | $1,894.19 | $23.60 | +$11,484 |
| Step 2 | $50,891 | $1,957.35 | $24.38 | +$11,867 |
| Step 3 | $52,533 | $2,020.50 | $25.17 | +$12,250 |
| Step 4 | $54,175 | $2,083.65 | $25.96 | +$12,633 |
| Step 5 | $55,817 | $2,146.81 | $26.75 | +$13,016 |
| Step 6 | $57,459 | $2,209.96 | $27.53 | +$13,399 |
| Step 7 | $59,101 | $2,273.12 | $28.32 | +$13,782 |
| Step 8 | $60,742 | $2,336.23 | $29.10 | +$14,164 |
| Step 9 | $62,384 | $2,399.38 | $29.89 | +$14,547 |
| Step 10 | $64,026 | $2,462.54 | $30.68 | +$14,930 |
2024 GS-6 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-6 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $49,249 | $1,894.19 | $23.60 | +$11,484 |
| Step 2 | $50,891 | $1,957.35 | $24.38 | +$11,867 |
| Step 3 | $52,533 | $2,020.50 | $25.17 | +$12,250 |
| Step 4 | $54,175 | $2,083.65 | $25.96 | +$12,633 |
| Step 5 | $55,817 | $2,146.81 | $26.75 | +$13,016 |
| Step 6 | $57,459 | $2,209.96 | $27.53 | +$13,399 |
| Step 7 | $59,101 | $2,273.12 | $28.32 | +$13,782 |
| Step 8 | $60,742 | $2,336.23 | $29.10 | +$14,164 |
| Step 9 | $62,384 | $2,399.38 | $29.89 | +$14,547 |
| Step 10 | $64,026 | $2,462.54 | $30.68 | +$14,930 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Chicago pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-6 in Chicago: what to expect
Experienced technicians and mid-level administrative support, including contract specialists, paralegals, medical technicians and HR specialists.
For 2024, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.41% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-6 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-5 level, or a master's degree for some series.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-7 after one year of creditable experience in the grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-6 is O-1 Second Lieutenant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-6 in Chicago
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $1,894 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,463. 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-6 Chicago page.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-6 in Chicago questions
-
How much does a GS-6 make in Chicago?
In 2024, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $49,249 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $64,026. This is 30.41% higher than the base GS-6 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-6 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-6 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,484 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-6 in Chicago?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-6 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $1,894 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.