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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$49,685 GS-8 Step 1 in Des Moines (2022)
$64,587 GS-8 Step 10 in Des Moines (2022)
+$7,044 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-8 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-8 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $49,685 $1,910.96 $23.81 +$7,044
Step 2 $51,341 $1,974.65 $24.60 +$7,279
Step 3 $52,997 $2,038.35 $25.39 +$7,514
Step 4 $54,653 $2,102.04 $26.19 +$7,749
Step 5 $56,308 $2,165.69 $26.98 +$7,983
Step 6 $57,964 $2,229.38 $27.77 +$8,218
Step 7 $59,620 $2,293.08 $28.57 +$8,453
Step 8 $61,276 $2,356.77 $29.36 +$8,688
Step 9 $62,931 $2,420.42 $30.15 +$8,922
Step 10 $64,587 $2,484.12 $30.95 +$9,157
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Des Moines pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $42,641
  • Des Moines GS-8 Step 1 $49,685
  • Locality add-on +$7,044
  • Adjustment percent 16.52%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $55,430
  • Des Moines GS-8 Step 10 $64,587

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

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 2022, the Des Moines pay area adds a 16.52% 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 $1,911 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,484. 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-8 Des Moines page.

Other grades in Des Moines

GS-8 in Des Moines questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in Des Moines?
    In 2022, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $49,685 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $64,587. This is 16.52% 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 2022, it is 16.52%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,044 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 $1,911 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.