2026 GS-9 Pay in Chicago
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI earn 30.86% on top of the base GS-9 pay scale. That means a GS-9 Step 1 salary jumps from $52,727 on the base table to $68,999 in Chicago.
2026 GS-9 Pay in Chicago
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $68,999 | $2,653.81 | $33.06 | +$16,272 |
| Step 2 | $71,299 | $2,742.27 | $34.16 | +$16,814 |
| Step 3 | $73,600 | $2,830.77 | $35.27 | +$17,357 |
| Step 4 | $75,900 | $2,919.23 | $36.37 | +$17,899 |
| Step 5 | $78,201 | $3,007.73 | $37.47 | +$18,442 |
| Step 6 | $80,501 | $3,096.19 | $38.57 | +$18,984 |
| Step 7 | $82,802 | $3,184.69 | $39.68 | +$19,527 |
| Step 8 | $85,102 | $3,273.15 | $40.78 | +$20,069 |
| Step 9 | $87,403 | $3,361.65 | $41.88 | +$20,612 |
| Step 10 | $89,703 | $3,450.12 | $42.98 | +$21,154 |
2026 GS-9 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-9 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $68,999 | $2,653.81 | $33.06 | +$16,272 |
| Step 2 | $71,299 | $2,742.27 | $34.16 | +$16,814 |
| Step 3 | $73,600 | $2,830.77 | $35.27 | +$17,357 |
| Step 4 | $75,900 | $2,919.23 | $36.37 | +$17,899 |
| Step 5 | $78,201 | $3,007.73 | $37.47 | +$18,442 |
| Step 6 | $80,501 | $3,096.19 | $38.57 | +$18,984 |
| Step 7 | $82,802 | $3,184.69 | $39.68 | +$19,527 |
| Step 8 | $85,102 | $3,273.15 | $40.78 | +$20,069 |
| Step 9 | $87,403 | $3,361.65 | $41.88 | +$20,612 |
| Step 10 | $89,703 | $3,450.12 | $42.98 | +$21,154 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Chicago pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Chicago: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2026, the Chicago pay area adds a 30.86% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-9 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A master's degree or equivalent graduate education, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.
Promotion path. Career-ladder promotion to GS-11 after one year of specialized GS-9 experience.
The rough military equivalent for GS-9 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-9 in Chicago
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $2,654 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,450. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Chicago
GS-9 in Chicago questions
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How much does a GS-9 make in Chicago?
In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns $68,999 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $89,703. This is 30.86% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 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-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,272 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Chicago?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Chicago earns roughly $2,654 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.