2021 GS-8 Pay in DES MOINES
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 15.95% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $41,723 on the base table to $48,378 in DES MOINES.
2021 GS-8 Pay in DES MOINES
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $48,378 | $1,860.69 | $23.18 | +$6,655 |
| Step 2 | $49,991 | $1,922.73 | $23.95 | +$6,877 |
| Step 3 | $51,604 | $1,984.77 | $24.73 | +$7,099 |
| Step 4 | $53,216 | $2,046.77 | $25.50 | +$7,320 |
| Step 5 | $54,829 | $2,108.81 | $26.27 | +$7,542 |
| Step 6 | $56,442 | $2,170.85 | $27.04 | +$7,764 |
| Step 7 | $58,055 | $2,232.88 | $27.82 | +$7,986 |
| Step 8 | $59,668 | $2,294.92 | $28.59 | +$8,208 |
| Step 9 | $61,281 | $2,356.96 | $29.36 | +$8,430 |
| Step 10 | $62,894 | $2,419.00 | $30.14 | +$8,652 |
2021 GS-8 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-8 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $48,378 | $1,860.69 | $23.18 | +$6,655 |
| Step 2 | $49,991 | $1,922.73 | $23.95 | +$6,877 |
| Step 3 | $51,604 | $1,984.77 | $24.73 | +$7,099 |
| Step 4 | $53,216 | $2,046.77 | $25.50 | +$7,320 |
| Step 5 | $54,829 | $2,108.81 | $26.27 | +$7,542 |
| Step 6 | $56,442 | $2,170.85 | $27.04 | +$7,764 |
| Step 7 | $58,055 | $2,232.88 | $27.82 | +$7,986 |
| Step 8 | $59,668 | $2,294.92 | $28.59 | +$8,208 |
| Step 9 | $61,281 | $2,356.96 | $29.36 | +$8,430 |
| Step 10 | $62,894 | $2,419.00 | $30.14 | +$8,652 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more DES MOINES pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in DES MOINES: what to expect
Senior technicians, investigators and lead administrative support. Less common than GS-7 or GS-9, often reserved for specialized technical work.
For 2021, the DES MOINES pay area adds a 15.95% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-8 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-7 level.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-9 after one year in grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-8 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-8 in DES MOINES
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in DES MOINES earns roughly $1,861 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,419. 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-8 DES MOINES page.
Other grades in DES MOINES
GS-8 in DES MOINES questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in DES MOINES?
In 2021, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in DES MOINES earns $48,378 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $62,894. This is 15.95% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 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-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,655 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in DES MOINES?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in DES MOINES earns roughly $1,861 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.