2023 GS-12 Pay in Des Moines
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 17.13% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $71,099 on the base table to $83,278 in Des Moines.
2023 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 | $83,278 | $3,203.00 | $39.90 | +$12,179 |
| Step 2 | $86,054 | $3,309.77 | $41.23 | +$12,585 |
| Step 3 | $88,830 | $3,416.54 | $42.56 | +$12,991 |
| Step 4 | $91,606 | $3,523.31 | $43.89 | +$13,397 |
| Step 5 | $94,382 | $3,630.08 | $45.22 | +$13,803 |
| Step 6 | $97,158 | $3,736.85 | $46.55 | +$14,209 |
| Step 7 | $99,934 | $3,843.62 | $47.88 | +$14,615 |
| Step 8 | $102,710 | $3,950.38 | $49.21 | +$15,021 |
| Step 9 | $105,486 | $4,057.15 | $50.54 | +$15,427 |
| Step 10 | $108,262 | $4,163.92 | $51.87 | +$15,833 |
2023 GS-12 pay table for Des Moines
Each step below already includes the 17.13% 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 | $83,278 | $3,203.00 | $39.90 | +$12,179 |
| Step 2 | $86,054 | $3,309.77 | $41.23 | +$12,585 |
| Step 3 | $88,830 | $3,416.54 | $42.56 | +$12,991 |
| Step 4 | $91,606 | $3,523.31 | $43.89 | +$13,397 |
| Step 5 | $94,382 | $3,630.08 | $45.22 | +$13,803 |
| Step 6 | $97,158 | $3,736.85 | $46.55 | +$14,209 |
| Step 7 | $99,934 | $3,843.62 | $47.88 | +$14,615 |
| Step 8 | $102,710 | $3,950.38 | $49.21 | +$15,021 |
| Step 9 | $105,486 | $4,057.15 | $50.54 | +$15,427 |
| Step 10 | $108,262 | $4,163.92 | $51.87 | +$15,833 |
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 2023, the Des Moines pay area adds a 17.13% 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 $3,203 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,164. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2023 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 2023, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $83,278 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $108,262. This is 17.13% 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 2023, it is 17.13%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,179 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 $3,203 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.