Des Moines, IA WG Pay Scale 2026 (Wage Area 054)
In the Des Moines, Iowa wage area, a WG-10 earns $30.06 at step 1, $31.30 at step 2 and $35.07 at step 5 under schedule 254 (Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA), effective November 16, 2025. Step 2 is about $65,323 a year at 2,087 hours, an estimate.
Schedule 254 is the one that covers this wage area's survey area (5 CFR 532, Appendix C). One other schedule covers other GS locality pay areas inside the wage area; it is listed below.
Below are the WG, WL and WS hourly rates for every grade and step and the counties covered. See WG pay scale 2026 for every wage area.
Maintained by Archie Chang · DCPAS schedules checked October 31, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Schedule 254: Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA (Des Moines, IA)
Issued December 23, 2025, effective November 16, 2025, superseding the schedule issued January 2, 2025. GS locality: Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA (DM). For General Schedule pay in the same locality, see Des Moines GS pay scale 2026.
WG: nonsupervisory grades 1 to 15
| WG (nonsupervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WG-1 | $15.00$31,305 | $15.62$32,599 | $16.26$33,935 | $16.83$35,124 | $17.49$36,502 |
| WG-2 | $16.66$34,769 | $17.35$36,209 | $17.99$37,545 | $18.70$39,027 | $19.42$40,530 |
| WG-3 | $18.31$38,213 | $19.07$39,799 | $19.83$41,385 | $20.59$42,971 | $21.34$44,537 |
| WG-4 | $19.95$41,636 | $20.78$43,368 | $21.62$45,121 | $22.43$46,811 | $23.28$48,585 |
| WG-5 | $21.60$45,079 | $22.46$46,874 | $23.39$48,815 | $24.29$50,693 | $25.17$52,530 |
| WG-6 | $23.26$48,544 | $24.21$50,526 | $25.18$52,551 | $26.14$54,554 | $27.11$56,579 |
| WG-7 | $24.92$52,008 | $25.95$54,158 | $27.01$56,370 | $28.06$58,561 | $29.07$60,669 |
| WG-8 | $26.61$55,535 | $27.70$57,810 | $28.81$60,126 | $29.94$62,485 | $31.03$64,760 |
| WG-9 | $28.35$59,166 | $29.51$61,587 | $30.69$64,050 | $31.87$66,513 | $33.05$68,975 |
| WG-10 | $30.06$62,735 | $31.30$65,323 | $32.54$67,911 | $33.83$70,603 | $35.07$73,191 |
| WG-11 | $31.76$66,283 | $33.10$69,080 | $34.42$71,835 | $35.77$74,652 | $37.07$77,365 |
| WG-12 | $33.49$69,894 | $34.87$72,774 | $36.28$75,716 | $37.68$78,638 | $39.08$81,560 |
| WG-13 | $34.76$72,544 | $36.17$75,487 | $37.67$78,617 | $39.10$81,602 | $40.56$84,649 |
| WG-14 | $36.11$75,362 | $37.66$78,596 | $39.13$81,664 | $40.67$84,878 | $42.14$87,946 |
| WG-15 | $37.35$77,949 | $38.91$81,205 | $40.47$84,461 | $42.03$87,717 | $43.60$90,993 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $16.48$34,394 | $17.15$35,792 | $17.86$37,274 | $18.55$38,714 | $19.24$40,154 |
| WL-2 | $18.30$38,192 | $19.06$39,778 | $19.82$41,364 | $20.59$42,971 | $21.38$44,620 |
| WL-3 | $20.13$42,011 | $20.97$43,764 | $21.83$45,559 | $22.66$47,291 | $23.50$49,045 |
| WL-4 | $21.93$45,768 | $22.85$47,688 | $23.75$49,566 | $24.68$51,507 | $25.60$53,427 |
| WL-5 | $23.70$49,462 | $24.70$51,549 | $25.70$53,636 | $26.69$55,702 | $27.66$57,726 |
| WL-6 | $25.59$53,406 | $26.65$55,619 | $27.67$57,747 | $28.76$60,022 | $29.85$62,297 |
| WL-7 | $27.42$57,226 | $28.56$59,605 | $29.71$62,005 | $30.84$64,363 | $31.97$66,721 |
| WL-8 | $29.27$61,086 | $30.48$63,612 | $31.70$66,158 | $32.92$68,704 | $34.13$71,229 |
| WL-9 | $31.19$65,094 | $32.46$67,744 | $33.78$70,499 | $35.06$73,170 | $36.39$75,946 |
| WL-10 | $33.07$69,017 | $34.44$71,876 | $35.84$74,798 | $37.20$77,636 | $38.59$80,537 |
| WL-11 | $34.95$72,941 | $36.43$76,029 | $37.88$79,056 | $39.33$82,082 | $40.79$85,129 |
| WL-12 | $36.84$76,885 | $38.36$80,057 | $39.89$83,250 | $41.45$86,506 | $42.98$89,699 |
| WL-13 | $38.24$79,807 | $39.80$83,063 | $41.41$86,423 | $43.00$89,741 | $44.59$93,059 |
| WL-14 | $39.73$82,917 | $41.39$86,381 | $43.05$89,845 | $44.72$93,331 | $46.35$96,732 |
| WL-15 | $41.08$85,734 | $42.83$89,386 | $44.55$92,976 | $46.25$96,524 | $48.00$100,176 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $23.98$50,046 | $24.98$52,133 | $26.00$54,262 | $26.96$56,266 | $27.98$58,394 |
| WS-2 | $25.60$53,427 | $26.67$55,660 | $27.70$57,810 | $28.78$60,064 | $29.87$62,339 |
| WS-3 | $27.23$56,829 | $28.37$59,208 | $29.48$61,525 | $30.60$63,862 | $31.76$66,283 |
| WS-4 | $28.88$60,273 | $30.09$62,798 | $31.27$65,260 | $32.48$67,786 | $33.72$70,374 |
| WS-5 | $30.56$63,779 | $31.81$66,387 | $33.10$69,080 | $34.38$71,751 | $35.66$74,422 |
| WS-6 | $32.22$67,243 | $33.56$70,040 | $34.91$72,857 | $36.19$75,529 | $37.62$78,513 |
| WS-7 | $33.94$70,833 | $35.35$73,775 | $36.73$76,656 | $38.16$79,640 | $39.58$82,603 |
| WS-8 | $35.63$74,360 | $37.10$77,428 | $38.60$80,558 | $40.05$83,584 | $41.58$86,777 |
| WS-9 | $37.32$77,887 | $38.91$81,205 | $40.49$84,503 | $42.02$87,696 | $43.60$90,993 |
| WS-10 | $39.09$81,581 | $40.71$84,962 | $42.35$88,384 | $43.95$91,724 | $45.61$95,188 |
| WS-11 | $39.88$83,230 | $41.54$86,694 | $43.20$90,158 | $44.87$93,644 | $46.54$97,129 |
| WS-12 | $40.92$85,400 | $42.63$88,969 | $44.33$92,517 | $46.05$96,106 | $47.75$99,654 |
| WS-13 | $42.18$88,030 | $43.95$91,724 | $45.69$95,355 | $47.42$98,966 | $49.23$102,743 |
| WS-14 | $43.72$91,244 | $45.55$95,063 | $47.39$98,903 | $49.22$102,722 | $51.03$106,500 |
| WS-15 | $45.63$95,230 | $47.54$99,216 | $49.42$103,140 | $51.31$107,084 | $53.23$111,091 |
| WS-16 | $47.32$98,757 | $49.28$102,847 | $51.27$107,000 | $53.22$111,070 | $55.19$115,182 |
| WS-17 | $49.47$103,244 | $51.53$107,543 | $53.60$111,863 | $55.68$116,204 | $57.68$120,378 |
| WS-18 | $52.14$108,816 | $54.30$113,324 | $56.51$117,936 | $58.68$122,465 | $60.82$126,931 |
| WS-19 | $52.20$108,941 | $54.37$113,470 | $56.54$117,999 | $58.72$122,549 | $60.89$127,077 |
Counties covered by schedule 254
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
Schedule 054: Rest of United States (Des Moines, IA)
Issued December 23, 2025, effective November 16, 2025, superseding the schedule issued January 2, 2025. GS locality: Rest of United States (RUS). For General Schedule pay in the same locality, see Rest of U.S. GS pay scale 2026.
WG: nonsupervisory grades 1 to 15
| WG (nonsupervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WG-1 | $15.00$31,305 | $15.61$32,578 | $16.26$33,935 | $16.83$35,124 | $17.49$36,502 |
| WG-2 | $16.65$34,749 | $17.35$36,209 | $17.99$37,545 | $18.70$39,027 | $19.42$40,530 |
| WG-3 | $18.31$38,213 | $19.07$39,799 | $19.83$41,385 | $20.59$42,971 | $21.34$44,537 |
| WG-4 | $19.95$41,636 | $20.78$43,368 | $21.62$45,121 | $22.43$46,811 | $23.28$48,585 |
| WG-5 | $21.56$44,996 | $22.46$46,874 | $23.36$48,752 | $24.26$50,631 | $25.14$52,467 |
| WG-6 | $23.20$48,418 | $24.15$50,401 | $25.11$52,405 | $26.07$54,408 | $27.04$56,432 |
| WG-7 | $24.85$51,862 | $25.87$53,991 | $26.93$56,203 | $27.98$58,394 | $28.98$60,481 |
| WG-8 | $26.54$55,389 | $27.63$57,664 | $28.74$59,980 | $29.84$62,276 | $30.95$64,593 |
| WG-9 | $28.21$58,874 | $29.36$61,274 | $30.53$63,716 | $31.70$66,158 | $32.87$68,600 |
| WG-10 | $29.91$62,422 | $31.13$64,968 | $32.38$67,577 | $33.66$70,248 | $34.90$72,836 |
| WG-11 | $31.59$65,928 | $32.93$68,725 | $34.24$71,459 | $35.57$74,235 | $36.88$76,969 |
| WG-12 | $33.31$69,518 | $34.70$72,419 | $36.08$75,299 | $37.49$78,242 | $38.88$81,143 |
| WG-13 | $34.57$72,148 | $35.99$75,111 | $37.47$78,200 | $38.90$81,184 | $40.34$84,190 |
| WG-14 | $36.02$75,174 | $37.53$78,325 | $39.03$81,456 | $40.54$84,607 | $42.03$87,717 |
| WG-15 | $37.25$77,741 | $38.80$80,976 | $40.35$84,210 | $41.91$87,466 | $43.48$90,743 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $16.48$34,394 | $17.14$35,771 | $17.86$37,274 | $18.55$38,714 | $19.24$40,154 |
| WL-2 | $18.30$38,192 | $19.06$39,778 | $19.82$41,364 | $20.59$42,971 | $21.38$44,620 |
| WL-3 | $20.13$42,011 | $20.97$43,764 | $21.83$45,559 | $22.66$47,291 | $23.50$49,045 |
| WL-4 | $21.93$45,768 | $22.85$47,688 | $23.75$49,566 | $24.68$51,507 | $25.60$53,427 |
| WL-5 | $23.70$49,462 | $24.70$51,549 | $25.69$53,615 | $26.68$55,681 | $27.66$57,726 |
| WL-6 | $25.52$53,260 | $26.58$55,472 | $27.60$57,601 | $28.69$59,876 | $29.78$62,151 |
| WL-7 | $27.35$57,079 | $28.48$59,438 | $29.62$61,817 | $30.76$64,196 | $31.89$66,554 |
| WL-8 | $29.19$60,920 | $30.41$63,466 | $31.61$65,970 | $32.83$68,516 | $34.05$71,062 |
| WL-9 | $31.03$64,760 | $32.29$67,389 | $33.61$70,144 | $34.89$72,815 | $36.20$75,549 |
| WL-10 | $32.90$68,662 | $34.26$71,501 | $35.66$74,422 | $37.00$77,219 | $38.40$80,141 |
| WL-11 | $34.77$72,565 | $36.24$75,633 | $37.67$78,617 | $39.13$81,664 | $40.59$84,711 |
| WL-12 | $36.64$76,468 | $38.16$79,640 | $39.68$82,812 | $41.22$86,026 | $42.76$89,240 |
| WL-13 | $38.04$79,389 | $39.60$82,645 | $41.20$85,984 | $42.78$89,282 | $44.34$92,538 |
| WL-14 | $39.62$82,687 | $41.27$86,130 | $42.93$89,595 | $44.57$93,018 | $46.22$96,461 |
| WL-15 | $40.98$85,525 | $42.72$89,157 | $44.42$92,705 | $46.12$96,252 | $47.88$99,926 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $23.98$50,046 | $24.98$52,133 | $26.00$54,262 | $26.96$56,266 | $27.98$58,394 |
| WS-2 | $25.60$53,427 | $26.67$55,660 | $27.70$57,810 | $28.78$60,064 | $29.87$62,339 |
| WS-3 | $27.23$56,829 | $28.37$59,208 | $29.48$61,525 | $30.60$63,862 | $31.76$66,283 |
| WS-4 | $28.83$60,168 | $30.03$62,673 | $31.21$65,135 | $32.43$67,681 | $33.64$70,207 |
| WS-5 | $30.47$63,591 | $31.72$66,200 | $33.02$68,913 | $34.28$71,542 | $35.57$74,235 |
| WS-6 | $32.13$67,055 | $33.48$69,873 | $34.81$72,648 | $36.09$75,320 | $37.52$78,304 |
| WS-7 | $33.85$70,645 | $35.25$73,567 | $36.64$76,468 | $38.06$79,431 | $39.48$82,395 |
| WS-8 | $35.45$73,984 | $36.91$77,031 | $38.41$80,162 | $39.85$83,167 | $41.34$86,277 |
| WS-9 | $37.12$77,469 | $38.69$80,746 | $40.26$84,023 | $41.79$87,216 | $43.36$90,492 |
| WS-10 | $38.89$81,163 | $40.50$84,524 | $42.14$87,946 | $43.73$91,265 | $45.36$94,666 |
| WS-11 | $39.67$82,791 | $41.32$86,235 | $42.98$89,699 | $44.64$93,164 | $46.29$96,607 |
| WS-12 | $40.70$84,941 | $42.39$88,468 | $44.09$92,016 | $45.81$95,605 | $47.50$99,133 |
| WS-13 | $41.86$87,362 | $43.61$91,014 | $45.33$94,604 | $47.06$98,214 | $48.84$101,929 |
| WS-14 | $43.36$90,492 | $45.17$94,270 | $47.04$98,172 | $48.83$101,908 | $50.62$105,644 |
| WS-15 | $45.25$94,437 | $47.15$98,402 | $49.02$102,305 | $50.92$106,270 | $52.81$110,214 |
| WS-16 | $46.95$97,985 | $48.89$102,033 | $50.86$106,145 | $52.80$110,194 | $54.76$114,284 |
| WS-17 | $49.09$102,451 | $51.13$106,708 | $53.16$110,945 | $55.22$115,244 | $57.22$119,418 |
| WS-18 | $51.73$107,961 | $53.86$112,406 | $56.07$117,018 | $58.20$121,463 | $60.33$125,909 |
| WS-19 | $52.20$108,941 | $54.37$113,470 | $56.54$117,999 | $58.72$122,549 | $60.89$127,077 |
Counties covered by schedule 054
Appanoose County, IA; Calhoun County, IA; Carroll County, IA; Cerro Gordo County, IA; Decatur County, IA; Franklin County, IA; Hancock County, IA; Hardin County, IA; Humboldt County, IA; Kossuth County, IA; Marshall County, IA; Ringgold County, IA; Union County, IA; Wayne County, IA; Webster County, IA; Winnebago County, IA; Worth County, IA; Wright County, IA
Other wage areas in Iowa
- Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA WG-10 step 2 $32.99
- Davenport-Moline, IA WG-10 step 2 $33.42
- Omaha, NE WG-10 step 2 $28.52
- Eastern South Dakota WG-10 step 2 $28.17
Des Moines, IA WG pay questions
What is the WG-10 rate in Des Moines, IA?
Under schedule 254 (Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA, the schedule that covers this wage area's survey area), WG-10 is $30.06 at step 1, $31.30 at step 2 and $35.07 at step 5. At 2,087 hours a year, step 2 is about $65,323, an estimate. The other schedule is on this page.
When did the Des Moines, IA wage schedule take effect?
DCPAS issued schedule 254 on December 23, 2025 with an effective date of November 16, 2025. It replaced the schedule issued January 2, 2025. New schedules follow each local wage survey, so check DCPAS for a newer one.
Why does Des Moines, IA have two schedules?
The wage area overlaps more than one General Schedule locality pay area, so DCPAS publishes one schedule for each: 054 (Rest of United States); 254 (Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA). This page leads with schedule 254, the one that covers this wage area's survey area (5 CFR 532 Appendix C). Use the schedule for the GS locality of your duty station. The county lists on this page show where each applies.
Are these the rates paid in Des Moines, IA?
These are the regular schedule rates. DCPAS marks schedule 054 as impacted by OPM CPM 2022-02 (the $15 per hour minimum pay rate for federal employees) and points to special rate schedule M054 for the payable rates. The rates shown are the regular schedule. DCPAS marks schedule 254 as impacted by OPM CPM 2022-02 (the $15 per hour minimum pay rate for federal employees) and points to special rate schedule M254 for the payable rates. The rates shown are the regular schedule. Find the special schedules on the DCPAS site under "Special".
Which counties does the Des Moines, IA wage area cover?
DCPAS lists 17 counties or areas for schedule 254; the full list is on this page. OPM's final rule on wage area criteria took effect on October 1, 2025, and DCPAS says it affects approximately 230 counties, so check the list if your county may have moved.
Sources (checked October 31, 2026): DCPAS Wage and Salary Division, appropriated fund wage schedules · 5 CFR 532.203, structure of regular wage schedules (eCFR) · 5 CFR 532.201, definitions (eCFR) · 5 CFR 532.211, criteria for appropriated fund wage areas (eCFR) · 5 CFR 532.417, within-grade increases (eCFR) · 5 U.S.C. 5343, prevailing rate determinations · 5 U.S.C. 5342, definitions · 5 U.S.C. 5504, biweekly pay periods; computation of pay · Federal Register, January 21, 2025 (90 FR 7428), final rule on wage area criteria · OPM, Facts About the Federal Wage System · OPM CPM 2025-20, Fiscal Year 2026 Prevailing Rate Pay Adjustments · OPM CPM 2026-05, Update to Fiscal Year 2026 Prevailing Rate Pay Adjustments · House Document 119-189, Alternative Plan for Pay Adjustments (January 2027)