2025 GS-15 Pay in Chicago
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.86% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $125,133 on the base table to $163,749 in Chicago.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Chicago
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $163,749 | $6,298.04 | $78.46 | +$38,616 |
| Step 2 | $169,207 | $6,507.96 | $81.08 | +$39,903 |
| Step 3 | $174,665 | $6,717.88 | $83.69 | +$41,190 |
| Step 4 | $180,124 | $6,927.85 | $86.31 | +$42,478 |
| Step 5 | $185,582 | $7,137.77 | $88.92 | +$43,765 |
| Step 6 | $191,040 | $7,347.69 | $91.54 | +$45,052 |
| Step 7 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$45,041 |
| Step 8 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$40,870 |
| Step 9 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$36,699 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
2025 GS-15 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-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $163,749 | $6,298.04 | $78.46 | +$38,616 |
| Step 2 | $169,207 | $6,507.96 | $81.08 | +$39,903 |
| Step 3 | $174,665 | $6,717.88 | $83.69 | +$41,190 |
| Step 4 | $180,124 | $6,927.85 | $86.31 | +$42,478 |
| Step 5 | $185,582 | $7,137.77 | $88.92 | +$43,765 |
| Step 6 | $191,040 | $7,347.69 | $91.54 | +$45,052 |
| Step 7 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$45,041 |
| Step 8 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$40,870 |
| Step 9 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$36,699 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Chicago pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Chicago: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2025, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.86% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in Chicago
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $6,298 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $7,508. 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-15 Chicago page.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-15 in Chicago questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Chicago?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $163,749 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 30.86% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 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-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $38,616 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Chicago?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $6,298 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.