2025 GS-5 Pay in Chicago
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.86% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $34,454 on the base table to $45,087 in Chicago.
2025 GS-5 Pay in Chicago
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $45,087 | $1,734.12 | $21.60 | +$10,633 |
| Step 2 | $46,589 | $1,791.88 | $22.32 | +$10,987 |
| Step 3 | $48,091 | $1,849.65 | $23.04 | +$11,341 |
| Step 4 | $49,593 | $1,907.42 | $23.76 | +$11,695 |
| Step 5 | $51,096 | $1,965.23 | $24.48 | +$12,050 |
| Step 6 | $52,598 | $2,023.00 | $25.20 | +$12,404 |
| Step 7 | $54,100 | $2,080.77 | $25.92 | +$12,758 |
| Step 8 | $55,602 | $2,138.54 | $26.64 | +$13,112 |
| Step 9 | $57,105 | $2,196.35 | $27.36 | +$13,467 |
| Step 10 | $58,607 | $2,254.12 | $28.08 | +$13,821 |
2025 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $45,087 | $1,734.12 | $21.60 | +$10,633 |
| Step 2 | $46,589 | $1,791.88 | $22.32 | +$10,987 |
| Step 3 | $48,091 | $1,849.65 | $23.04 | +$11,341 |
| Step 4 | $49,593 | $1,907.42 | $23.76 | +$11,695 |
| Step 5 | $51,096 | $1,965.23 | $24.48 | +$12,050 |
| Step 6 | $52,598 | $2,023.00 | $25.20 | +$12,404 |
| Step 7 | $54,100 | $2,080.77 | $25.92 | +$12,758 |
| Step 8 | $55,602 | $2,138.54 | $26.64 | +$13,112 |
| Step 9 | $57,105 | $2,196.35 | $27.36 | +$13,467 |
| Step 10 | $58,607 | $2,254.12 | $28.08 | +$13,821 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Chicago pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Chicago: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2025, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.86% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-5 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.
Promotion path. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.
The rough military equivalent for GS-5 is E-6 Staff Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-5 in Chicago
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $1,734 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,254. 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-5 Chicago page.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-5 in Chicago questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Chicago?
In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $45,087 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $58,607. This is 30.86% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 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-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,633 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Chicago?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $1,734 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.