2023 GS-5 Pay in Des Moines
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 17.13% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $32,357 on the base table to $37,900 in Des Moines.
2023 GS-5 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,900 | $1,457.69 | $18.16 | +$5,543 |
| Step 2 | $39,164 | $1,506.31 | $18.77 | +$5,728 |
| Step 3 | $40,427 | $1,554.88 | $19.37 | +$5,912 |
| Step 4 | $41,691 | $1,603.50 | $19.98 | +$6,097 |
| Step 5 | $42,955 | $1,652.12 | $20.58 | +$6,282 |
| Step 6 | $44,219 | $1,700.73 | $21.19 | +$6,467 |
| Step 7 | $45,483 | $1,749.35 | $21.79 | +$6,652 |
| Step 8 | $46,747 | $1,797.96 | $22.40 | +$6,837 |
| Step 9 | $48,010 | $1,846.54 | $23.00 | +$7,021 |
| Step 10 | $49,274 | $1,895.15 | $23.61 | +$7,206 |
2023 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,900 | $1,457.69 | $18.16 | +$5,543 |
| Step 2 | $39,164 | $1,506.31 | $18.77 | +$5,728 |
| Step 3 | $40,427 | $1,554.88 | $19.37 | +$5,912 |
| Step 4 | $41,691 | $1,603.50 | $19.98 | +$6,097 |
| Step 5 | $42,955 | $1,652.12 | $20.58 | +$6,282 |
| Step 6 | $44,219 | $1,700.73 | $21.19 | +$6,467 |
| Step 7 | $45,483 | $1,749.35 | $21.79 | +$6,652 |
| Step 8 | $46,747 | $1,797.96 | $22.40 | +$6,837 |
| Step 9 | $48,010 | $1,846.54 | $23.00 | +$7,021 |
| Step 10 | $49,274 | $1,895.15 | $23.61 | +$7,206 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Des Moines: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2023, the Des Moines pay area adds a 17.13% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-5 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.
Promotion path. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.
The rough military equivalent for GS-5 is E-6 Staff Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-5 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $1,458 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,895. 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-5 Des Moines page.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-5 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Des Moines?
In 2023, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $37,900 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $49,274. This is 17.13% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 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-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,543 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $1,458 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.