2022 GS-12 Pay in Des Moines
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 16.52% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $68,299 on the base table to $79,582 in Des Moines.
2022 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 | $79,582 | $3,060.85 | $38.13 | +$11,283 |
| Step 2 | $82,235 | $3,162.88 | $39.40 | +$11,659 |
| Step 3 | $84,888 | $3,264.92 | $40.67 | +$12,035 |
| Step 4 | $87,541 | $3,366.96 | $41.95 | +$12,411 |
| Step 5 | $90,195 | $3,469.04 | $43.22 | +$12,788 |
| Step 6 | $92,848 | $3,571.08 | $44.49 | +$13,164 |
| Step 7 | $95,501 | $3,673.12 | $45.76 | +$13,540 |
| Step 8 | $98,154 | $3,775.15 | $47.03 | +$13,916 |
| Step 9 | $100,807 | $3,877.19 | $48.30 | +$14,292 |
| Step 10 | $103,460 | $3,979.23 | $49.57 | +$14,668 |
2022 GS-12 pay table for Des Moines
Each step below already includes the 16.52% 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 | $79,582 | $3,060.85 | $38.13 | +$11,283 |
| Step 2 | $82,235 | $3,162.88 | $39.40 | +$11,659 |
| Step 3 | $84,888 | $3,264.92 | $40.67 | +$12,035 |
| Step 4 | $87,541 | $3,366.96 | $41.95 | +$12,411 |
| Step 5 | $90,195 | $3,469.04 | $43.22 | +$12,788 |
| Step 6 | $92,848 | $3,571.08 | $44.49 | +$13,164 |
| Step 7 | $95,501 | $3,673.12 | $45.76 | +$13,540 |
| Step 8 | $98,154 | $3,775.15 | $47.03 | +$13,916 |
| Step 9 | $100,807 | $3,877.19 | $48.30 | +$14,292 |
| Step 10 | $103,460 | $3,979.23 | $49.57 | +$14,668 |
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 2022, the Des Moines pay area adds a 16.52% 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 $3,061 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,979. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2022 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 2022, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $79,582 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $103,460. This is 16.52% 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 2022, it is 16.52%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,283 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 $3,061 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.