Free FERS Tool · 2026

2026 GS Pay Scale — Des Moines

Locality-adjusted General Schedule pay for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA, the OPM pay area covering Des Moines. Every grade and step below is base pay plus the 18.01% locality add-on, computed with OPM's own formula.

2026 rules · statutory figures last checked October 31, 2026 · Sources: OPM · GSA

18.01%

Locality rate

$107,301

GS-13 Step 1

+$864

vs. Rest of U.S.

#51

Of 58 areas

What Des Moines locality pay is worth

Des Moines carries a locality rate of 18.01%, which ranks #51 of 58 areas on this site. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that is worth $864 a year more than the same grade and step in the Rest of U.S. area ($107,301 against $106,437).

Locality pay is not a bonus — it is part of basic pay. That matters for retirement: it counts toward your High-3 average salary, and therefore toward your FERS pension. A move between pay areas late in your career can move your High-3 in either direction.

Locality pay counts toward your High-3. Because it is basic pay, the difference above compounds into your annuity — not just your paycheck. Calculate your High-3 →

2026 pay table — Des Moines (18.01%)

Annual locality-adjusted salary by grade and step. Figures are rounded to the dollar.

Grade	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8	Step 9	Step 10
GS-1	$26,651	$27,545	$28,431	$29,314	$30,198	$30,716	$31,592	$32,475	$32,512	$33,335
GS-2	$29,966	$30,679	$31,673	$32,512	$32,875	$33,842	$34,808	$35,775	$36,741	$37,708
GS-3	$32,698	$33,789	$34,879	$35,969	$37,060	$38,150	$39,241	$40,331	$41,422	$42,512
GS-4	$36,705	$37,928	$39,152	$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

How this table is calculated

OPM publishes a base General Schedule table and a locality percentage for each pay area. The locality add-on is the base rate multiplied by the area percentage and rounded to the nearest dollar; the two are then summed and the result capped at Executive Schedule Level IV.

add-on = round(base × 0.1801)
total = min(base + add-on, $197,200)

5 U.S.C. § 5304 · 5 CFR § 531.214

Compare with other pay areas

Areas with a locality rate closest to Des Moines, plus the Rest of U.S. baseline.

Rest of U.S.17.06%Palm Bay17.93%Rochester17.88%Indianapolis18.15%Omaha18.23%Birmingham18.24%

All 58 pay areas

Alaska32.36%Albany20.77%Albuquerque18.33%Atlanta23.79%Austin20.35%Birmingham18.24%Boston32.58%Buffalo22.41%Burlington19.45%Charlotte19.67%Chicago30.86%Cincinnati21.93%Cleveland22.23%Colorado Springs20.15%Columbus22.15%Corpus Christi17.63%Dallas-Fort Worth27.26%Davenport18.93%Dayton21.42%Denver30.52%Des Moines18.01%Detroit29.12%Fresno17.65%Harrisburg19.43%Hartford32.08%Hawaii22.21%Houston35.00%Huntsville21.91%Indianapolis18.15%Kansas City18.97%Laredo21.59%Las Vegas19.57%Los Angeles36.47%Miami24.67%Milwaukee22.42%Minneapolis27.62%New York37.95%Omaha18.23%Palm Bay17.93%Philadelphia28.99%Phoenix22.45%Pittsburgh21.03%Portland26.13%Raleigh22.24%Reno17.52%Rest of U.S.17.06%Richmond22.28%Rochester17.88%Sacramento29.76%San Antonio18.78%San Diego33.72%San Francisco46.34%Seattle31.57%Spokane17.67%St. Louis20.03%Tucson19.28%Virginia Beach18.80%Washington, DC33.94%

Need a different grade, step, or a biweekly figure? Use the GS pay calculator → — it covers every area, shows the base/locality split, and flags the pay cap.

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