2026 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 $34,799 on the base table to $45,538 in Chicago.
2026 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 | $45,538 | $1,751.46 | $21.82 | +$10,739 |
| Step 2 | $47,056 | $1,809.85 | $22.55 | +$11,097 |
| Step 3 | $48,574 | $1,868.23 | $23.27 | +$11,455 |
| Step 4 | $50,092 | $1,926.62 | $24.00 | +$11,813 |
| Step 5 | $51,610 | $1,985.00 | $24.73 | +$12,171 |
| Step 6 | $53,128 | $2,043.38 | $25.46 | +$12,529 |
| Step 7 | $54,646 | $2,101.77 | $26.18 | +$12,887 |
| Step 8 | $56,164 | $2,160.15 | $26.91 | +$13,245 |
| Step 9 | $57,682 | $2,218.54 | $27.64 | +$13,603 |
| Step 10 | $59,200 | $2,276.92 | $28.37 | +$13,961 |
2026 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 | $45,538 | $1,751.46 | $21.82 | +$10,739 |
| Step 2 | $47,056 | $1,809.85 | $22.55 | +$11,097 |
| Step 3 | $48,574 | $1,868.23 | $23.27 | +$11,455 |
| Step 4 | $50,092 | $1,926.62 | $24.00 | +$11,813 |
| Step 5 | $51,610 | $1,985.00 | $24.73 | +$12,171 |
| Step 6 | $53,128 | $2,043.38 | $25.46 | +$12,529 |
| Step 7 | $54,646 | $2,101.77 | $26.18 | +$12,887 |
| Step 8 | $56,164 | $2,160.15 | $26.91 | +$13,245 |
| Step 9 | $57,682 | $2,218.54 | $27.64 | +$13,603 |
| Step 10 | $59,200 | $2,276.92 | $28.37 | +$13,961 |
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 2026, 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 $1,751 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,277. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-5 in Chicago questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Chicago?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $45,538 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $59,200. 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 2026, it is 30.86%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,739 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 $1,751 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.