GS Pay Scale 2026 Des Moines
Des Moines GS employees get 18.01% locality pay in 2026 under the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA area, 0.95 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 51st highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $90,234 a year ($43.24 per hour), $726 more than Rest of U.S., and the table runs from $35,048 (GS-1 step 1) to $193,892 (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 Des Moines: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA locality pay area (18.01%). 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) | $37,388† (special rate table 001M) | $38,312† (special rate table 001M) | $39,236† (special rate table 001M) | $40,160† (special rate table 001M) | $41,084† (special rate table 001M) | $42,008† (special rate table 001M) | $42,932† (special rate table 001M) | $43,856† (special rate table 001M) | $44,780† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-4 | $37,193† (special rate table 001M) | $38,230† (special rate table 001M) | $39,267† (special rate table 001M) | $40,376 | $41,600 | $42,823 | $44,047 | $45,271 | $46,495 | $47,719 |
| GS-5 | $41,066 | $42,435 | $43,804 | $45,173 | $46,542 | $47,911 | $49,280 | $50,649 | $52,018 | $53,387 |
| GS-6 | $45,777 | $47,303 | $48,829 | $50,355 | $51,881 | $53,407 | $54,932 | $56,458 | $57,984 | $59,510 |
| GS-7 | $50,869 | $52,565 | $54,261 | $55,957 | $57,653 | $59,348 | $61,044 | $62,740 | $64,436 | $66,132 |
| GS-8 | $56,336 | $58,213 | $60,091 | $61,968 | $63,846 | $65,723 | $67,601 | $69,478 | $71,356 | $73,233 |
| GS-9 | $62,223 | $64,298 | $66,372 | $68,447 | $70,522 | $72,596 | $74,671 | $76,745 | $78,820 | $80,895 |
| GS-10 | $68,521 | $70,805 | $73,088 | $75,372 | $77,655 | $79,939 | $82,222 | $84,506 | $86,789 | $89,073 |
| GS-11 | $75,284 | $77,795 | $80,305 | $82,815 | $85,325 | $87,835 | $90,345 | $92,855 | $95,365 | $97,875 |
| GS-12 | $90,234 | $93,242 | $96,250 | $99,258 | $102,266 | $105,274 | $108,282 | $111,291 | $114,299 | $117,307 |
| GS-13 | $107,301 | $110,877 | $114,454 | $118,031 | $121,608 | $125,185 | $128,762 | $132,339 | $135,916 | $139,493 |
| GS-14 | $126,797 | $131,024 | $135,251 | $139,478 | $143,705 | $147,933 | $152,160 | $156,387 | $160,614 | $164,841 |
| GS-15 | $149,146 | $154,118 | $159,089 | $164,061 | $169,033 | $174,005 | $178,976 | $183,948 | $188,920 | $193,892 |
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 Des Moines it sets 33 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 Des Moines
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) | $17.91† (special rate table 001M) | $18.36† (special rate table 001M) | $18.80† (special rate table 001M) | $19.24† (special rate table 001M) | $19.69† (special rate table 001M) | $20.13† (special rate table 001M) | $20.57† (special rate table 001M) | $21.01† (special rate table 001M) | $21.46† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-4 | $17.82† (special rate table 001M) | $18.32† (special rate table 001M) | $18.82† (special rate table 001M) | $19.35 | $19.93 | $20.52 | $21.11 | $21.69 | $22.28 | $22.86 |
| GS-5 | $19.68 | $20.33 | $20.99 | $21.64 | $22.30 | $22.96 | $23.61 | $24.27 | $24.92 | $25.58 |
| GS-6 | $21.93 | $22.67 | $23.40 | $24.13 | $24.86 | $25.59 | $26.32 | $27.05 | $27.78 | $28.51 |
| GS-7 | $24.37 | $25.19 | $26.00 | $26.81 | $27.62 | $28.44 | $29.25 | $30.06 | $30.87 | $31.69 |
| GS-8 | $26.99 | $27.89 | $28.79 | $29.69 | $30.59 | $31.49 | $32.39 | $33.29 | $34.19 | $35.09 |
| GS-9 | $29.81 | $30.81 | $31.80 | $32.80 | $33.79 | $34.78 | $35.78 | $36.77 | $37.77 | $38.76 |
| GS-10 | $32.83 | $33.93 | $35.02 | $36.11 | $37.21 | $38.30 | $39.40 | $40.49 | $41.59 | $42.68 |
| GS-11 | $36.07 | $37.28 | $38.48 | $39.68 | $40.88 | $42.09 | $43.29 | $44.49 | $45.69 | $46.90 |
| GS-12 | $43.24 | $44.68 | $46.12 | $47.56 | $49.00 | $50.44 | $51.88 | $53.33 | $54.77 | $56.21 |
| GS-13 | $51.41 | $53.13 | $54.84 | $56.56 | $58.27 | $59.98 | $61.70 | $63.41 | $65.13 | $66.84 |
| GS-14 | $60.76 | $62.78 | $64.81 | $66.83 | $68.86 | $70.88 | $72.91 | $74.93 | $76.96 | $78.98 |
| GS-15 | $71.46 | $73.85 | $76.23 | $78.61 | $80.99 | $83.38 | $85.76 | $88.14 | $90.52 | $92.90 |
Des Moines compared with Rest of U.S.
- Des Moines has the 51st highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (18.01%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Des Moines runs from $90,234 at step 1 to $117,307 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Des Moines first reaches $100,000 at GS-12 step 5 ($102,266).
- No rate in Des Moines reaches the $197,200 cap; GS-15 runs from $149,146 to $193,892.
- Special rate table 001M sets 33 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Des Moines; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $26,651.
| Grade, step 1 | Des Moines | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $41,066 | $40,736 | +$330 |
| GS-7 | $50,869 | $50,460 | +$409 |
| GS-9 | $62,223 | $61,722 | +$501 |
| GS-11 | $75,284 | $74,678 | +$606 |
| GS-12 | $90,234 | $89,508 | +$726 |
| GS-13 | $107,301 | $106,437 | +$864 |
| GS-14 | $126,797 | $125,776 | +$1,021 |
| GS-15 | $149,146 | $147,945 | +$1,201 |
Counties in the Des Moines pay area
The Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA area covers the 17 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Iowa: Adair County, IA; Boone County, IA; Clarke County, IA; Dallas County, IA; Greene County, IA; Guthrie County, IA; Hamilton County, IA; Jasper County, IA; Lucas County, IA; Madison County, IA; Mahaska County, IA; Marion County, IA; Monroe County, IA; Polk County, IA; Poweshiek County, IA; Story County, IA; Warren County, IA
GS pay scale pages
Des Moines GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Des Moines in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Des Moines pays $90,234 a year in 2026, which is $43.24 per hour or $3,459.20 biweekly before deductions, at 18.01% locality pay. Step 10 pays $117,307. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Des Moines pays $726 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Des Moines in 2026?
Des Moines is in OPM's Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA locality pay area, which gets 18.01% in 2026, the 51st highest of 58 areas and 0.95 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 Des Moines in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Des Moines runs from $50,869 at step 1 ($24.37 per hour) to $66,132 at step 10 ($31.69 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Des Moines in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Des Moines runs from $62,223 at step 1 ($29.81 per hour) to $80,895 at step 10 ($38.76 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Des Moines in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Des Moines runs from $107,301 at step 1 to $139,493 at step 10. At step 1 that is $864 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Des Moines in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Des Moines: $193,892 a year ($92.90 per hour). The lowest is GS-1 step 1 at $35,048.
Does special rate table 001M change GS-1 to GS-4 pay in Des Moines?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 33 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Des Moines (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 10, GS-3: 10, GS-4: 3). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $26,651.
Which counties are in the Des Moines GS locality pay area?
OPM's Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA locality pay area covers 17 counties and places in Iowa. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Des Moines 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.