2026 GS-10 Pay in Chicago
GS-10 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.86% on top of the base GS-10 pay scale. That means a GS-10 Step 1 salary jumps from $58,064 on the base table to $75,983 in Chicago.
2026 GS-10 Pay in Chicago
Locality-adjusted GS-10 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $75,983 | $2,922.42 | $36.41 | +$17,919 |
| Step 2 | $78,515 | $3,019.81 | $37.62 | +$18,516 |
| Step 3 | $81,047 | $3,117.19 | $38.83 | +$19,113 |
| Step 4 | $83,579 | $3,214.58 | $40.05 | +$19,710 |
| Step 5 | $86,111 | $3,311.96 | $41.26 | +$20,307 |
| Step 6 | $88,643 | $3,409.35 | $42.47 | +$20,904 |
| Step 7 | $91,175 | $3,506.73 | $43.69 | +$21,501 |
| Step 8 | $93,708 | $3,604.15 | $44.90 | +$22,099 |
| Step 9 | $96,240 | $3,701.54 | $46.11 | +$22,696 |
| Step 10 | $98,772 | $3,798.92 | $47.33 | +$23,293 |
2026 GS-10 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-10 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $75,983 | $2,922.42 | $36.41 | +$17,919 |
| Step 2 | $78,515 | $3,019.81 | $37.62 | +$18,516 |
| Step 3 | $81,047 | $3,117.19 | $38.83 | +$19,113 |
| Step 4 | $83,579 | $3,214.58 | $40.05 | +$19,710 |
| Step 5 | $86,111 | $3,311.96 | $41.26 | +$20,307 |
| Step 6 | $88,643 | $3,409.35 | $42.47 | +$20,904 |
| Step 7 | $91,175 | $3,506.73 | $43.69 | +$21,501 |
| Step 8 | $93,708 | $3,604.15 | $44.90 | +$22,099 |
| Step 9 | $96,240 | $3,701.54 | $46.11 | +$22,696 |
| Step 10 | $98,772 | $3,798.92 | $47.33 | +$23,293 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Chicago pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-10 in Chicago: what to expect
Senior technician and supervisory positions, and full-performance roles in a handful of occupations such as Border Patrol and IT.
For 2026, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.86% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-10 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-9 level, plus agency-specific requirements.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-11 after one year of creditable experience in grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-10 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-10 in Chicago
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $2,922 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,799. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-10 in Chicago questions
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How much does a GS-10 make in Chicago?
In 2026, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $75,983 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $98,772. This is 30.86% higher than the base GS-10 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-10 in Chicago?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Chicago in 2026, it is 30.86%. On a GS-10 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,919 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-10 in Chicago?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-10 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $2,922 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.