2026 GS Pay Scale in Chicago
Locality-adjusted federal General Schedule salaries for the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area. Base rates plus the 30.86% Chicago locality adjustment, effective January 2026.
🏛️ Source: Base rates from U.S. OPM Salary Table 2026-GS; the 30.86% locality adjustment is the official 2026 rate for the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI area. Public government record.
30.86%
Locality adjustment
$100,059
GS-12 Step 1 here
$118,984
GS-13 Step 1 here
$215,004
GS-15 Step 10 (top)
2026 GS pay table for Chicago (Step 1, 5, 10)
Locality-adjusted salaries by grade. Every grade has 10 steps; entry, mid, and top shown.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $29,553 | $33,486 | $36,965 |
| GS-2 | $33,229 | $36,455 | $41,814 |
| GS-3 | $36,259 | $41,095 | $47,141 |
| GS-4 | $40,701 | $46,129 | $52,915 |
| GS-5 | $45,538 | $51,610 | $59,200 |
| GS-6 | $50,762 | $57,530 | $65,990 |
| GS-7 | $56,409 | $63,930 | $73,333 |
| GS-8 | $62,470 | $70,798 | $81,208 |
| GS-9 | $68,999 | $78,201 | $89,703 |
| GS-10 | $75,983 | $86,111 | $98,772 |
| GS-11 | $83,482 | $94,616 | $108,533 |
| GS-12 | $100,059 | $113,402 | $130,080 |
| GS-13 | $118,984 | $134,850 | $154,682 |
| GS-14 | $140,604 | $159,353 | $182,790 |
| GS-15 | $165,386 | $187,439 | $215,004 |
Take-home pay in Chicago after taxes
Estimated take-home on the locality-adjusted salary (single filer, federal tax + Social Security + Medicare; IL state tax varies and is not included here):
| Grade / Step | Salary | Take-home (no state) | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 Step 1 | $45,538 | ~$38,574 | ~$3,215 |
| GS-7 Step 1 | $56,409 | ~$47,309 | ~$3,942 |
| GS-9 Step 1 | $68,999 | ~$56,700 | ~$4,725 |
| GS-11 Step 1 | $83,482 | ~$66,889 | ~$5,574 |
| GS-12 Step 1 | $100,059 | ~$78,551 | ~$6,546 |
| GS-13 Step 1 | $118,984 | ~$91,787 | ~$7,649 |
Take-home excludes state/local income tax, FERS retirement, and TSP. Use our after-tax calculator for a full picture.
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