2023 GS-8 Pay in Des Moines
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 17.13% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $44,389 on the base table to $51,993 in Des Moines.
2023 GS-8 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $51,993 | $1,999.73 | $24.91 | +$7,604 |
| Step 2 | $53,726 | $2,066.38 | $25.74 | +$7,857 |
| Step 3 | $55,460 | $2,133.08 | $26.57 | +$8,111 |
| Step 4 | $57,193 | $2,199.73 | $27.40 | +$8,364 |
| Step 5 | $58,927 | $2,266.42 | $28.24 | +$8,618 |
| Step 6 | $60,660 | $2,333.08 | $29.07 | +$8,871 |
| Step 7 | $62,394 | $2,399.77 | $29.90 | +$9,125 |
| Step 8 | $64,128 | $2,466.46 | $30.73 | +$9,379 |
| Step 9 | $65,861 | $2,533.12 | $31.56 | +$9,632 |
| Step 10 | $67,595 | $2,599.81 | $32.39 | +$9,886 |
2023 GS-8 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-8 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $51,993 | $1,999.73 | $24.91 | +$7,604 |
| Step 2 | $53,726 | $2,066.38 | $25.74 | +$7,857 |
| Step 3 | $55,460 | $2,133.08 | $26.57 | +$8,111 |
| Step 4 | $57,193 | $2,199.73 | $27.40 | +$8,364 |
| Step 5 | $58,927 | $2,266.42 | $28.24 | +$8,618 |
| Step 6 | $60,660 | $2,333.08 | $29.07 | +$8,871 |
| Step 7 | $62,394 | $2,399.77 | $29.90 | +$9,125 |
| Step 8 | $64,128 | $2,466.46 | $30.73 | +$9,379 |
| Step 9 | $65,861 | $2,533.12 | $31.56 | +$9,632 |
| Step 10 | $67,595 | $2,599.81 | $32.39 | +$9,886 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
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 2023, the Des Moines pay area adds a 17.13% 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 $2,000 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,600. 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-8 Des Moines page.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-8 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Des Moines?
In 2023, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $51,993 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $67,595. This is 17.13% 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 2023, it is 17.13%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,604 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 $2,000 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.