GS Pay Scale 2026 Chicago
Chicago GS employees get 30.86% locality pay in 2026 under the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI area, 13.80 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 11th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $100,059 a year ($47.94 per hour), $10,551 more than Rest of U.S., and the table runs from $35,048 (GS-1 step 1) to $197,200 (GS-15 step 10).
Rates are OPM's 2026 tables (checked October 23, 2026). For your own grade, step and duty station use the GS pay calculator, or see how to read the GS pay scale. Looking for next year? See federal pay raise 2027.
Maintained by Archie Chang · OPM tables checked October 23, 2026 · Methodology & sources
GS pay scale 2026 Chicago: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI locality pay area (30.86%). An asterisk marks a rate limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap and a dagger (†) marks a rate set by special rate table 001M.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $35,048† (special rate table 001M) | $35,772† (special rate table 001M) | $36,496† (special rate table 001M) | $37,220† (special rate table 001M) | $37,944† (special rate table 001M) | $38,668† (special rate table 001M) | $39,392† (special rate table 001M) | $40,116† (special rate table 001M) | $40,840† (special rate table 001M) | $41,564† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-2 | $35,749† (special rate table 001M) | $36,568† (special rate table 001M) | $37,387† (special rate table 001M) | $38,206† (special rate table 001M) | $39,025† (special rate table 001M) | $39,844† (special rate table 001M) | $40,663† (special rate table 001M) | $41,482† (special rate table 001M) | $42,301† (special rate table 001M) | $43,120† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-3 | $36,464† (special rate table 001M) | $37,468 | $38,677 | $39,886 | $41,095 | $42,304 | $43,514 | $44,723 | $45,932 | $47,141 |
| GS-4 | $40,701 | $42,058 | $43,415 | $44,772 | $46,129 | $47,486 | $48,843 | $50,201 | $51,558 | $52,915 |
| GS-5 | $45,538 | $47,056 | $48,574 | $50,092 | $51,610 | $53,128 | $54,646 | $56,164 | $57,682 | $59,200 |
| GS-6 | $50,762 | $52,454 | $54,146 | $55,838 | $57,530 | $59,222 | $60,914 | $62,606 | $64,298 | $65,990 |
| GS-7 | $56,409 | $58,289 | $60,169 | $62,050 | $63,930 | $65,811 | $67,691 | $69,572 | $71,452 | $73,333 |
| GS-8 | $62,470 | $64,552 | $66,634 | $68,716 | $70,798 | $72,880 | $74,962 | $77,044 | $79,126 | $81,208 |
| GS-9 | $68,999 | $71,299 | $73,600 | $75,900 | $78,201 | $80,501 | $82,802 | $85,102 | $87,403 | $89,703 |
| GS-10 | $75,983 | $78,515 | $81,047 | $83,579 | $86,111 | $88,643 | $91,175 | $93,708 | $96,240 | $98,772 |
| GS-11 | $83,482 | $86,266 | $89,049 | $91,832 | $94,616 | $97,399 | $100,182 | $102,966 | $105,749 | $108,533 |
| GS-12 | $100,059 | $103,395 | $106,731 | $110,066 | $113,402 | $116,738 | $120,073 | $123,409 | $126,744 | $130,080 |
| GS-13 | $118,984 | $122,951 | $126,917 | $130,884 | $134,850 | $138,816 | $142,783 | $146,749 | $150,715 | $154,682 |
| GS-14 | $140,604 | $145,291 | $149,979 | $154,666 | $159,353 | $164,041 | $168,728 | $173,416 | $178,103 | $182,790 |
| GS-15 | $165,386 | $170,899 | $176,412 | $181,925 | $187,439 | $192,952 | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) |
Rates marked † are set by OPM special rate table 001M, which applies to all General Schedule employees whose worksite is in the United States when it pays more than the locality rate (5 U.S.C. 5305(h); 5 CFR 530.303(d)). In Chicago it sets 21 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates; everywhere else in the table the locality rate from OPM's locality table applies. OPM special rate table 001M. Occupation-specific special rate tables are not included.
GS hourly pay 2026 Chicago
Hourly pay is the annual rate divided by 2,087 and rounded to the cent, as OPM prints it. Multiply by 80 for the biweekly rate before deductions (5 U.S.C. 5504(b)).
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $16.79† (special rate table 001M) | $17.14† (special rate table 001M) | $17.49† (special rate table 001M) | $17.83† (special rate table 001M) | $18.18† (special rate table 001M) | $18.53† (special rate table 001M) | $18.87† (special rate table 001M) | $19.22† (special rate table 001M) | $19.57† (special rate table 001M) | $19.92† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-2 | $17.13† (special rate table 001M) | $17.52† (special rate table 001M) | $17.91† (special rate table 001M) | $18.31† (special rate table 001M) | $18.70† (special rate table 001M) | $19.09† (special rate table 001M) | $19.48† (special rate table 001M) | $19.88† (special rate table 001M) | $20.27† (special rate table 001M) | $20.66† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-3 | $17.47† (special rate table 001M) | $17.95 | $18.53 | $19.11 | $19.69 | $20.27 | $20.85 | $21.43 | $22.01 | $22.59 |
| GS-4 | $19.50 | $20.15 | $20.80 | $21.45 | $22.10 | $22.75 | $23.40 | $24.05 | $24.70 | $25.35 |
| GS-5 | $21.82 | $22.55 | $23.27 | $24.00 | $24.73 | $25.46 | $26.18 | $26.91 | $27.64 | $28.37 |
| GS-6 | $24.32 | $25.13 | $25.94 | $26.76 | $27.57 | $28.38 | $29.19 | $30.00 | $30.81 | $31.62 |
| GS-7 | $27.03 | $27.93 | $28.83 | $29.73 | $30.63 | $31.53 | $32.43 | $33.34 | $34.24 | $35.14 |
| GS-8 | $29.93 | $30.93 | $31.93 | $32.93 | $33.92 | $34.92 | $35.92 | $36.92 | $37.91 | $38.91 |
| GS-9 | $33.06 | $34.16 | $35.27 | $36.37 | $37.47 | $38.57 | $39.68 | $40.78 | $41.88 | $42.98 |
| GS-10 | $36.41 | $37.62 | $38.83 | $40.05 | $41.26 | $42.47 | $43.69 | $44.90 | $46.11 | $47.33 |
| GS-11 | $40.00 | $41.33 | $42.67 | $44.00 | $45.34 | $46.67 | $48.00 | $49.34 | $50.67 | $52.00 |
| GS-12 | $47.94 | $49.54 | $51.14 | $52.74 | $54.34 | $55.94 | $57.53 | $59.13 | $60.73 | $62.33 |
| GS-13 | $57.01 | $58.91 | $60.81 | $62.71 | $64.61 | $66.51 | $68.42 | $70.32 | $72.22 | $74.12 |
| GS-14 | $67.37 | $69.62 | $71.86 | $74.11 | $76.36 | $78.60 | $80.85 | $83.09 | $85.34 | $87.59 |
| GS-15 | $79.25 | $81.89 | $84.53 | $87.17 | $89.81 | $92.45 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 |
Chicago compared with Rest of U.S.
- Chicago has the 11th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (30.86%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Chicago runs from $100,059 at step 1 to $130,080 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Chicago first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 7 ($100,182).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 4 rates in Chicago, so GS-15 step 10 is $197,200 rather than the uncapped amount.
- Special rate table 001M sets 21 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Chicago; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $29,553.
| Grade, step 1 | Chicago | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $45,538 | $40,736 | +$4,802 |
| GS-7 | $56,409 | $50,460 | +$5,949 |
| GS-9 | $68,999 | $61,722 | +$7,277 |
| GS-11 | $83,482 | $74,678 | +$8,804 |
| GS-12 | $100,059 | $89,508 | +$10,551 |
| GS-13 | $118,984 | $106,437 | +$12,547 |
| GS-14 | $140,604 | $125,776 | +$14,828 |
| GS-15 | $165,386 | $147,945 | +$17,441 |
Counties in the Chicago pay area
The Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI area covers the 25 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Illinois: Boone County, IL; Bureau County, IL; Cook County, IL; DeKalb County, IL; DuPage County, IL; Grundy County, IL; Iroquois County, IL; Kane County, IL; Kankakee County, IL; Kendall County, IL; Lake County, IL; LaSalle County, IL; McHenry County, IL; Ogle County, IL; Putnam County, IL; Stephenson County, IL; Will County, IL; Winnebago County, IL
Indiana: Jasper County, IN; Lake County, IN; LaPorte County, IN; Newton County, IN; Porter County, IN; Starke County, IN
Wisconsin: Kenosha County, WI
GS pay scale pages
Chicago GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Chicago in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Chicago pays $100,059 a year in 2026, which is $47.94 per hour or $3,835.20 biweekly before deductions, at 30.86% locality pay. Step 10 pays $130,080. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Chicago pays $10,551 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Chicago in 2026?
Chicago is in OPM's Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI locality pay area, which gets 30.86% in 2026, the 11th highest of 58 areas and 13.80 points above Rest of U.S. at 17.06%. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
How much does a GS-7 make in Chicago in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Chicago runs from $56,409 at step 1 ($27.03 per hour) to $73,333 at step 10 ($35.14 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Chicago in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Chicago runs from $68,999 at step 1 ($33.06 per hour) to $89,703 at step 10 ($42.98 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Chicago in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Chicago runs from $118,984 at step 1 to $154,682 at step 10. At step 1 that is $12,547 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Chicago in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Chicago: $197,200 a year ($94.49 per hour), limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap. The lowest is GS-1 step 1 at $35,048.
Does special rate table 001M change GS-1 to GS-4 pay in Chicago?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 21 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Chicago (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 10, GS-3: 1, GS-4: 0). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $29,553.
Which counties are in the Chicago GS locality pay area?
OPM's Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI locality pay area covers 25 counties and places in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Chicago GS pay change in 2027?
The 2027 federal pay raise is not final and OPM has not published 2027 salary tables, so every rate on this page is a 2026 rate. Step increases and promotions are separate from the annual raise.
Estimates for planning. Special rates, law enforcement rates and your agency's application of OPM rules can differ. Your SF-50 and your agency HR office are authoritative.