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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$57,426 GS-9 Step 1 in Des Moines (2023)
$74,652 GS-9 Step 10 in Des Moines (2023)
+$8,398 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-9 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-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $57,426 $2,208.69 $27.52 +$8,398
Step 2 $59,340 $2,282.31 $28.43 +$8,678
Step 3 $61,254 $2,355.92 $29.35 +$8,958
Step 4 $63,168 $2,429.54 $30.27 +$9,238
Step 5 $65,082 $2,503.15 $31.18 +$9,518
Step 6 $66,996 $2,576.77 $32.10 +$9,798
Step 7 $68,910 $2,650.38 $33.02 +$10,078
Step 8 $70,824 $2,724.00 $33.94 +$10,358
Step 9 $72,738 $2,797.62 $34.85 +$10,638
Step 10 $74,652 $2,871.23 $35.77 +$10,918
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Des Moines pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $49,028
  • Des Moines GS-9 Step 1 $57,426
  • Locality add-on +$8,398
  • Adjustment percent 17.13%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $63,734
  • Des Moines GS-9 Step 10 $74,652

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-9 in Des Moines: what to expect

Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.

For 2023, the Des Moines pay area adds a 17.13% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-9 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A master's degree or equivalent graduate education, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.

Promotion path. Career-ladder promotion to GS-11 after one year of specialized GS-9 experience.

The rough military equivalent for GS-9 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-9 in Des Moines

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,209 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,871. 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-9 Des Moines page.

Other grades in Des Moines

GS-9 in Des Moines questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Des Moines?
    In 2023, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $57,426 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $74,652. This is 17.13% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 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-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,398 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Des Moines?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,209 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.