2025 GS-4 Pay in Chicago
GS-4 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.86% on top of the base GS-4 pay scale. That means a GS-4 Step 1 salary jumps from $30,795 on the base table to $40,298 in Chicago.
2025 GS-4 Pay in Chicago
Locality-adjusted GS-4 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $40,298 | $1,549.92 | $19.31 | +$9,503 |
| Step 2 | $41,642 | $1,601.62 | $19.95 | +$9,820 |
| Step 3 | $42,986 | $1,653.31 | $20.60 | +$10,137 |
| Step 4 | $44,330 | $1,705.00 | $21.24 | +$10,454 |
| Step 5 | $45,674 | $1,756.69 | $21.89 | +$10,771 |
| Step 6 | $47,018 | $1,808.38 | $22.53 | +$11,088 |
| Step 7 | $48,362 | $1,860.08 | $23.17 | +$11,405 |
| Step 8 | $49,706 | $1,911.77 | $23.82 | +$11,722 |
| Step 9 | $51,050 | $1,963.46 | $24.46 | +$12,039 |
| Step 10 | $52,394 | $2,015.15 | $25.10 | +$12,356 |
2025 GS-4 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-4 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $40,298 | $1,549.92 | $19.31 | +$9,503 |
| Step 2 | $41,642 | $1,601.62 | $19.95 | +$9,820 |
| Step 3 | $42,986 | $1,653.31 | $20.60 | +$10,137 |
| Step 4 | $44,330 | $1,705.00 | $21.24 | +$10,454 |
| Step 5 | $45,674 | $1,756.69 | $21.89 | +$10,771 |
| Step 6 | $47,018 | $1,808.38 | $22.53 | +$11,088 |
| Step 7 | $48,362 | $1,860.08 | $23.17 | +$11,405 |
| Step 8 | $49,706 | $1,911.77 | $23.82 | +$11,722 |
| Step 9 | $51,050 | $1,963.46 | $24.46 | +$12,039 |
| Step 10 | $52,394 | $2,015.15 | $25.10 | +$12,356 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Chicago pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-4 in Chicago: what to expect
Office assistants, supply and inventory clerks, entry-level technicians and program aides.
For 2025, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.86% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-4 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. Two years of post-secondary education, an associate's degree, or one year of GS-3 equivalent experience.
Promotion path. Usually promoted to GS-5 after one year in the grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-4 is E-5 Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-4 in Chicago
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-4 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $1,550 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,015. 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-4 Chicago page.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-4 in Chicago questions
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How much does a GS-4 make in Chicago?
In 2025, a GS-4 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $40,298 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $52,394. This is 30.86% higher than the base GS-4 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-4 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-4 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,503 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-4 in Chicago?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-4 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $1,550 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.