2026 GS-8 Pay in Chicago
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.86% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $47,738 on the base table to $62,470 in Chicago.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Chicago
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $62,470 | $2,402.69 | $29.93 | +$14,732 |
| Step 2 | $64,552 | $2,482.77 | $30.93 | +$15,223 |
| Step 3 | $66,634 | $2,562.85 | $31.93 | +$15,714 |
| Step 4 | $68,716 | $2,642.92 | $32.93 | +$16,205 |
| Step 5 | $70,798 | $2,723.00 | $33.92 | +$16,696 |
| Step 6 | $72,880 | $2,803.08 | $34.92 | +$17,187 |
| Step 7 | $74,962 | $2,883.15 | $35.92 | +$17,678 |
| Step 8 | $77,044 | $2,963.23 | $36.92 | +$18,169 |
| Step 9 | $79,126 | $3,043.31 | $37.91 | +$18,660 |
| Step 10 | $81,208 | $3,123.38 | $38.91 | +$19,151 |
2026 GS-8 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-8 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $62,470 | $2,402.69 | $29.93 | +$14,732 |
| Step 2 | $64,552 | $2,482.77 | $30.93 | +$15,223 |
| Step 3 | $66,634 | $2,562.85 | $31.93 | +$15,714 |
| Step 4 | $68,716 | $2,642.92 | $32.93 | +$16,205 |
| Step 5 | $70,798 | $2,723.00 | $33.92 | +$16,696 |
| Step 6 | $72,880 | $2,803.08 | $34.92 | +$17,187 |
| Step 7 | $74,962 | $2,883.15 | $35.92 | +$17,678 |
| Step 8 | $77,044 | $2,963.23 | $36.92 | +$18,169 |
| Step 9 | $79,126 | $3,043.31 | $37.91 | +$18,660 |
| Step 10 | $81,208 | $3,123.38 | $38.91 | +$19,151 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Chicago pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Chicago: what to expect
Senior technicians, investigators and lead administrative support. Less common than GS-7 or GS-9, often reserved for specialized technical work.
For 2026, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.86% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-8 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-7 level.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-9 after one year in grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-8 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-8 in Chicago
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $2,403 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,123. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-8 in Chicago questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Chicago?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $62,470 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $81,208. This is 30.86% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 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-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,732 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Chicago?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $2,403 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.