GS-15 Pay in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
$164,484 – $197,200 per year • 30.14% locality adjustment
GS-15 Salary Summary — Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
Complete GS-15 Pay Table — Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $164,484 | $13,707 | $6,326 | $78.81 | $126,390 | +$38,094 |
| Step 2 | $169,967 | $14,164 | $6,537 | $81.44 | $130,603 | +$39,364 |
| Step 3 | $175,450 | $14,621 | $6,748 | $84.07 | $134,816 | +$40,634 |
| Step 4 | $180,932 | $15,078 | $6,959 | $86.69 | $139,029 | +$41,903 |
| Step 5 | $186,415 | $15,535 | $7,170 | $89.32 | $143,242 | +$43,173 |
| Step 6 | $191,898 | $15,992 | $7,381 | $91.95 | $147,455 | +$44,443 |
| Step 7 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $151,668 | +$45,532 |
| Step 8 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $155,881 | +$41,319 |
| Step 9 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $160,094 | +$37,106 |
| Step 10 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $164,307 | +$32,893 |
* Salary capped at Executive Schedule Level IV ($197,200). Actual calculated salary exceeds this cap.
Compare Nearby Grades in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
How does GS-15 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-14 to GS-15 at Step 5 in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI is a raise of $27,944 per year.
GS-15 Federal Jobs in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
Federal employees at GS-15 in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI locality area earn between $164,484 and $197,200 annually in 2026. This includes a 30.14% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-15 base pay of $126,390 to $164,307.
The Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI locality area covers Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin. At Step 5, a GS-15 employee here earns $18,736 more per year than the same grade and step under the "Rest of United States" rate (17.06%).
As one of the higher-paying locality areas, Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI compensates for the higher cost of living in the region. Federal employees considering a move should compare not just the salary difference but also housing costs, state income taxes, and commuting expenses.
The biweekly pay for a GS-15 Step 1 in this area is $6,326, or approximately $78.81 per hour based on the standard 2,087-hour work year. Step increases are automatic with acceptable performance — it takes 18 years to progress from Step 1 to Step 10.
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