2025 GS-12 Pay in Chicago
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.86% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $75,706 on the base table to $99,069 in Chicago.
2025 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 | $99,069 | $3,810.35 | $47.47 | +$23,363 |
| Step 2 | $102,372 | $3,937.38 | $49.05 | +$24,142 |
| Step 3 | $105,675 | $4,064.42 | $50.63 | +$24,921 |
| Step 4 | $108,978 | $4,191.46 | $52.22 | +$25,700 |
| Step 5 | $112,280 | $4,318.46 | $53.80 | +$26,478 |
| Step 6 | $115,583 | $4,445.50 | $55.38 | +$27,257 |
| Step 7 | $118,886 | $4,572.54 | $56.97 | +$28,036 |
| Step 8 | $122,189 | $4,699.58 | $58.55 | +$28,815 |
| Step 9 | $125,492 | $4,826.62 | $60.13 | +$29,594 |
| Step 10 | $128,795 | $4,953.65 | $61.71 | +$30,373 |
2025 GS-12 pay table for Chicago
Each step below already includes the 30.86% 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 | $99,069 | $3,810.35 | $47.47 | +$23,363 |
| Step 2 | $102,372 | $3,937.38 | $49.05 | +$24,142 |
| Step 3 | $105,675 | $4,064.42 | $50.63 | +$24,921 |
| Step 4 | $108,978 | $4,191.46 | $52.22 | +$25,700 |
| Step 5 | $112,280 | $4,318.46 | $53.80 | +$26,478 |
| Step 6 | $115,583 | $4,445.50 | $55.38 | +$27,257 |
| Step 7 | $118,886 | $4,572.54 | $56.97 | +$28,036 |
| Step 8 | $122,189 | $4,699.58 | $58.55 | +$28,815 |
| Step 9 | $125,492 | $4,826.62 | $60.13 | +$29,594 |
| Step 10 | $128,795 | $4,953.65 | $61.71 | +$30,373 |
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 2025, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.86% 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 $3,810 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,954. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2025 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 2025, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $99,069 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $128,795. This is 30.86% 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 2025, it is 30.86%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $23,363 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 $3,810 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.