What is the 2026 locality pay for Des Moines?

Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA has a 18.01% locality payment in 2026, ranked 51 of 58 areas. A GS-13 step 1 earns $107,301; a GS-7 step 1 earns $50,869.

How much more is Des Moines than Rest of U.S.?

18.01% vs 17.06% — a GS-12 step 1 makes $90,234 in Des Moines versus $89,508 in Rest of U.S., a difference of $726.

Des Moines GS Pay Scale 2026

Locality pay area Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA — 18.01% locality payment, ranked #51 of 58. Rates below include the 2026 1% general increase and locality adjustment.

Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-DM · area definition.

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

Hourly rates (step 1 / step 10)

GS-1

$12.77 – $15.97/hr

GS-2

$14.36 – $18.07/hr

GS-3

$15.67 – $20.37/hr

GS-4

$17.59 – $22.86/hr

GS-5

$19.68 – $25.58/hr

GS-6

$21.93 – $28.51/hr

GS-7

$24.37 – $31.69/hr

GS-8

$26.99 – $35.09/hr

GS-9

$29.81 – $38.76/hr

GS-10

$32.83 – $42.68/hr

GS-11

$36.07 – $46.90/hr

GS-12

$43.24 – $56.21/hr

GS-13

$51.41 – $66.84/hr

GS-14

$60.76 – $78.98/hr

GS-15

$71.46 – $92.90/hr

Other locality areas

San Francisco Bay Area 46.34%New York 37.95%Los Angeles 36.47%Houston 35%Washington DC 33.94%San Diego 33.72%Boston 32.58%Alaska 32.36%Hartford 32.08%Seattle 31.57%Chicago 30.86%Denver 30.52%Sacramento 29.76%Detroit 29.12%Philadelphia 28.99%Minneapolis 27.62%Dallas-Fort Worth 27.26%Portland 26.13%Miami 24.67%Atlanta 23.79%Phoenix 22.45%Milwaukee 22.42%Buffalo 22.41%Richmond 22.28%Raleigh 22.24%Cleveland 22.23%Hawaii 22.21%Columbus 22.15%Cincinnati 21.93%Huntsville 21.91%Laredo 21.59%Dayton 21.42%Pittsburgh 21.03%Albany 20.77%Austin 20.35%Colorado Springs 20.15%St. Louis 20.03%Charlotte 19.67%Las Vegas 19.57%Burlington 19.45%Harrisburg 19.43%Tucson 19.28%Kansas City 18.97%Davenport 18.93%Virginia Beach 18.8%San Antonio 18.78%Albuquerque 18.33%Birmingham 18.24%Omaha 18.23%Indianapolis 18.15%Palm Bay 17.93%Rochester 17.88%Spokane 17.67%Fresno 17.65%Corpus Christi 17.63%Reno 17.52%Rest of U.S. 17.06%