2024 GS-8 Pay in Chicago
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.41% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $46,475 on the base table to $60,608 in Chicago.
2024 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 | $60,608 | $2,331.08 | $29.04 | +$14,133 |
| Step 2 | $62,628 | $2,408.77 | $30.01 | +$14,604 |
| Step 3 | $64,648 | $2,486.46 | $30.98 | +$15,075 |
| Step 4 | $66,668 | $2,564.15 | $31.94 | +$15,546 |
| Step 5 | $68,688 | $2,641.85 | $32.91 | +$16,017 |
| Step 6 | $70,708 | $2,719.54 | $33.88 | +$16,488 |
| Step 7 | $72,728 | $2,797.23 | $34.85 | +$16,959 |
| Step 8 | $74,748 | $2,874.92 | $35.82 | +$17,430 |
| Step 9 | $76,768 | $2,952.62 | $36.78 | +$17,901 |
| Step 10 | $78,789 | $3,030.35 | $37.75 | +$18,373 |
2024 GS-8 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-8 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $60,608 | $2,331.08 | $29.04 | +$14,133 |
| Step 2 | $62,628 | $2,408.77 | $30.01 | +$14,604 |
| Step 3 | $64,648 | $2,486.46 | $30.98 | +$15,075 |
| Step 4 | $66,668 | $2,564.15 | $31.94 | +$15,546 |
| Step 5 | $68,688 | $2,641.85 | $32.91 | +$16,017 |
| Step 6 | $70,708 | $2,719.54 | $33.88 | +$16,488 |
| Step 7 | $72,728 | $2,797.23 | $34.85 | +$16,959 |
| Step 8 | $74,748 | $2,874.92 | $35.82 | +$17,430 |
| Step 9 | $76,768 | $2,952.62 | $36.78 | +$17,901 |
| Step 10 | $78,789 | $3,030.35 | $37.75 | +$18,373 |
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 2024, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.41% 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 $2,331 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,030. 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-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 2024, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $60,608 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $78,789. This is 30.41% 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 2024, it is 30.41%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,133 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 $2,331 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.