2021 GS-12 Pay in DES MOINES
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 15.95% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $66,829 on the base table to $77,488 in DES MOINES.
2021 GS-12 Pay in DES MOINES
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $77,488 | $2,980.31 | $37.13 | +$10,659 |
| Step 2 | $80,072 | $3,079.69 | $38.37 | +$11,015 |
| Step 3 | $82,655 | $3,179.04 | $39.60 | +$11,370 |
| Step 4 | $85,238 | $3,278.38 | $40.84 | +$11,725 |
| Step 5 | $87,822 | $3,377.77 | $42.08 | +$12,081 |
| Step 6 | $90,405 | $3,477.12 | $43.32 | +$12,436 |
| Step 7 | $92,988 | $3,576.46 | $44.56 | +$12,791 |
| Step 8 | $95,572 | $3,675.85 | $45.79 | +$13,147 |
| Step 9 | $98,155 | $3,775.19 | $47.03 | +$13,502 |
| Step 10 | $100,739 | $3,874.58 | $48.27 | +$13,858 |
2021 GS-12 pay table for DES MOINES
Each step below already includes the 15.95% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $77,488 | $2,980.31 | $37.13 | +$10,659 |
| Step 2 | $80,072 | $3,079.69 | $38.37 | +$11,015 |
| Step 3 | $82,655 | $3,179.04 | $39.60 | +$11,370 |
| Step 4 | $85,238 | $3,278.38 | $40.84 | +$11,725 |
| Step 5 | $87,822 | $3,377.77 | $42.08 | +$12,081 |
| Step 6 | $90,405 | $3,477.12 | $43.32 | +$12,436 |
| Step 7 | $92,988 | $3,576.46 | $44.56 | +$12,791 |
| Step 8 | $95,572 | $3,675.85 | $45.79 | +$13,147 |
| Step 9 | $98,155 | $3,775.19 | $47.03 | +$13,502 |
| Step 10 | $100,739 | $3,874.58 | $48.27 | +$13,858 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more DES MOINES pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in DES MOINES: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2021, the DES MOINES pay area adds a 15.95% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in DES MOINES
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in DES MOINES earns roughly $2,980 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,875. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2021 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-12 DES MOINES page.
Other grades in DES MOINES
GS-12 in DES MOINES questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in DES MOINES?
In 2021, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in DES MOINES earns $77,488 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $100,739. This is 15.95% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in DES MOINES?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For DES MOINES in 2021, it is 15.95%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,659 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in DES MOINES?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in DES MOINES earns roughly $2,980 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.