2024 GS-12 Pay in Des Moines
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 17.68% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $74,441 on the base table to $87,602 in Des Moines.
2024 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 | $87,602 | $3,369.31 | $41.98 | +$13,161 |
| Step 2 | $90,522 | $3,481.62 | $43.37 | +$13,600 |
| Step 3 | $93,441 | $3,593.88 | $44.77 | +$14,038 |
| Step 4 | $96,361 | $3,706.19 | $46.17 | +$14,477 |
| Step 5 | $99,281 | $3,818.50 | $47.57 | +$14,916 |
| Step 6 | $102,200 | $3,930.77 | $48.97 | +$15,354 |
| Step 7 | $105,120 | $4,043.08 | $50.37 | +$15,793 |
| Step 8 | $108,040 | $4,155.38 | $51.77 | +$16,232 |
| Step 9 | $110,959 | $4,267.65 | $53.17 | +$16,670 |
| Step 10 | $113,879 | $4,379.96 | $54.57 | +$17,109 |
2024 GS-12 pay table for Des Moines
Each step below already includes the 17.68% 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 | $87,602 | $3,369.31 | $41.98 | +$13,161 |
| Step 2 | $90,522 | $3,481.62 | $43.37 | +$13,600 |
| Step 3 | $93,441 | $3,593.88 | $44.77 | +$14,038 |
| Step 4 | $96,361 | $3,706.19 | $46.17 | +$14,477 |
| Step 5 | $99,281 | $3,818.50 | $47.57 | +$14,916 |
| Step 6 | $102,200 | $3,930.77 | $48.97 | +$15,354 |
| Step 7 | $105,120 | $4,043.08 | $50.37 | +$15,793 |
| Step 8 | $108,040 | $4,155.38 | $51.77 | +$16,232 |
| Step 9 | $110,959 | $4,267.65 | $53.17 | +$16,670 |
| Step 10 | $113,879 | $4,379.96 | $54.57 | +$17,109 |
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 2024, the Des Moines pay area adds a 17.68% 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 $3,369 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,380. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2024 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 2024, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $87,602 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $113,879. This is 17.68% 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 2024, it is 17.68%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,161 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 $3,369 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.