2026 GS-13 Pay in Chicago
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.86% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $90,925 on the base table to $118,984 in Chicago.
2026 GS-13 Pay in Chicago
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $118,984 | $4,576.31 | $57.01 | +$28,059 |
| Step 2 | $122,951 | $4,728.88 | $58.91 | +$28,995 |
| Step 3 | $126,917 | $4,881.42 | $60.81 | +$29,930 |
| Step 4 | $130,884 | $5,034.00 | $62.71 | +$30,866 |
| Step 5 | $134,850 | $5,186.54 | $64.61 | +$31,801 |
| Step 6 | $138,816 | $5,339.08 | $66.51 | +$32,736 |
| Step 7 | $142,783 | $5,491.65 | $68.42 | +$33,672 |
| Step 8 | $146,749 | $5,644.19 | $70.32 | +$34,607 |
| Step 9 | $150,715 | $5,796.73 | $72.22 | +$35,542 |
| Step 10 | $154,682 | $5,949.31 | $74.12 | +$36,478 |
2026 GS-13 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-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $118,984 | $4,576.31 | $57.01 | +$28,059 |
| Step 2 | $122,951 | $4,728.88 | $58.91 | +$28,995 |
| Step 3 | $126,917 | $4,881.42 | $60.81 | +$29,930 |
| Step 4 | $130,884 | $5,034.00 | $62.71 | +$30,866 |
| Step 5 | $134,850 | $5,186.54 | $64.61 | +$31,801 |
| Step 6 | $138,816 | $5,339.08 | $66.51 | +$32,736 |
| Step 7 | $142,783 | $5,491.65 | $68.42 | +$33,672 |
| Step 8 | $146,749 | $5,644.19 | $70.32 | +$34,607 |
| Step 9 | $150,715 | $5,796.73 | $72.22 | +$35,542 |
| Step 10 | $154,682 | $5,949.31 | $74.12 | +$36,478 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Chicago pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Chicago: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2026, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.86% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-13 in Chicago
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $4,576 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,949. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-13 in Chicago questions
-
How much does a GS-13 make in Chicago?
In 2026, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $118,984 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $154,682. This is 30.86% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $28,059 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Chicago?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $4,576 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.