2025 GS-6 Pay in Chicago
GS-6 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.86% on top of the base GS-6 pay scale. That means a GS-6 Step 1 salary jumps from $38,407 on the base table to $50,259 in Chicago.
2025 GS-6 Pay in Chicago
Locality-adjusted GS-6 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $50,259 | $1,933.04 | $24.08 | +$11,852 |
| Step 2 | $51,934 | $1,997.46 | $24.88 | +$12,247 |
| Step 3 | $53,609 | $2,061.88 | $25.69 | +$12,642 |
| Step 4 | $55,284 | $2,126.31 | $26.49 | +$13,037 |
| Step 5 | $56,959 | $2,190.73 | $27.29 | +$13,432 |
| Step 6 | $58,634 | $2,255.15 | $28.09 | +$13,827 |
| Step 7 | $60,309 | $2,319.58 | $28.90 | +$14,222 |
| Step 8 | $61,984 | $2,384.00 | $29.70 | +$14,617 |
| Step 9 | $63,659 | $2,448.42 | $30.50 | +$15,012 |
| Step 10 | $65,334 | $2,512.85 | $31.31 | +$15,407 |
2025 GS-6 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-6 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $50,259 | $1,933.04 | $24.08 | +$11,852 |
| Step 2 | $51,934 | $1,997.46 | $24.88 | +$12,247 |
| Step 3 | $53,609 | $2,061.88 | $25.69 | +$12,642 |
| Step 4 | $55,284 | $2,126.31 | $26.49 | +$13,037 |
| Step 5 | $56,959 | $2,190.73 | $27.29 | +$13,432 |
| Step 6 | $58,634 | $2,255.15 | $28.09 | +$13,827 |
| Step 7 | $60,309 | $2,319.58 | $28.90 | +$14,222 |
| Step 8 | $61,984 | $2,384.00 | $29.70 | +$14,617 |
| Step 9 | $63,659 | $2,448.42 | $30.50 | +$15,012 |
| Step 10 | $65,334 | $2,512.85 | $31.31 | +$15,407 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Chicago pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-6 in Chicago: what to expect
Experienced technicians and mid-level administrative support, including contract specialists, paralegals, medical technicians and HR specialists.
For 2025, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.86% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-6 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-5 level, or a master's degree for some series.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-7 after one year of creditable experience in the grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-6 is O-1 Second Lieutenant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-6 in Chicago
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $1,933 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,513. 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-6 Chicago page.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-6 in Chicago questions
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How much does a GS-6 make in Chicago?
In 2025, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $50,259 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $65,334. This is 30.86% higher than the base GS-6 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-6 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-6 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,852 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-6 in Chicago?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-6 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $1,933 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.