2023 GS-3 Pay in Des Moines
GS-3 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 17.13% on top of the base GS-3 pay scale. That means a GS-3 Step 1 salary jumps from $25,764 on the base table to $30,177 in Des Moines.
2023 GS-3 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-3 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $30,177 | $1,160.65 | $14.46 | +$4,413 |
| Step 2 | $31,184 | $1,199.38 | $14.94 | +$4,561 |
| Step 3 | $32,190 | $1,238.08 | $15.42 | +$4,708 |
| Step 4 | $33,196 | $1,276.77 | $15.91 | +$4,855 |
| Step 5 | $34,202 | $1,315.46 | $16.39 | +$5,002 |
| Step 6 | $35,208 | $1,354.15 | $16.87 | +$5,149 |
| Step 7 | $36,214 | $1,392.85 | $17.35 | +$5,296 |
| Step 8 | $37,220 | $1,431.54 | $17.83 | +$5,443 |
| Step 9 | $38,227 | $1,470.27 | $18.32 | +$5,591 |
| Step 10 | $39,233 | $1,508.96 | $18.80 | +$5,738 |
2023 GS-3 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-3 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $30,177 | $1,160.65 | $14.46 | +$4,413 |
| Step 2 | $31,184 | $1,199.38 | $14.94 | +$4,561 |
| Step 3 | $32,190 | $1,238.08 | $15.42 | +$4,708 |
| Step 4 | $33,196 | $1,276.77 | $15.91 | +$4,855 |
| Step 5 | $34,202 | $1,315.46 | $16.39 | +$5,002 |
| Step 6 | $35,208 | $1,354.15 | $16.87 | +$5,149 |
| Step 7 | $36,214 | $1,392.85 | $17.35 | +$5,296 |
| Step 8 | $37,220 | $1,431.54 | $17.83 | +$5,443 |
| Step 9 | $38,227 | $1,470.27 | $18.32 | +$5,591 |
| Step 10 | $39,233 | $1,508.96 | $18.80 | +$5,738 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-3 in Des Moines: what to expect
Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.
For 2023, the Des Moines pay area adds a 17.13% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.
Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.
The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $1,161 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,509. 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-3 Des Moines page.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-3 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-3 make in Des Moines?
In 2023, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $30,177 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $39,233. This is 17.13% higher than the base GS-3 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 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-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $4,413 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $1,161 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.