An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$104,170 GS-13 Step 1 in Des Moines (2024)
$135,425 GS-13 Step 10 in Des Moines (2024)
+$15,650 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2024 GS-13 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-13 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $104,170 $4,006.54 $49.91 +$15,650
Step 2 $107,643 $4,140.12 $51.58 +$16,172
Step 3 $111,116 $4,273.69 $53.24 +$16,694
Step 4 $114,589 $4,407.27 $54.91 +$17,216
Step 5 $118,061 $4,540.81 $56.57 +$17,737
Step 6 $121,534 $4,674.38 $58.23 +$18,259
Step 7 $125,007 $4,807.96 $59.90 +$18,781
Step 8 $128,479 $4,941.50 $61.56 +$19,302
Step 9 $131,952 $5,075.08 $63.23 +$19,824
Step 10 $135,425 $5,208.65 $64.89 +$20,346
← GS-12 Calculate my take-home GS-14 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Des Moines pays

  • Base GS-13 Step 1 $88,520
  • Des Moines GS-13 Step 1 $104,170
  • Locality add-on +$15,650
  • Adjustment percent 17.68%
  • Base GS-13 Step 10 $115,079
  • Des Moines GS-13 Step 10 $135,425

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-13 in Des Moines: what to expect

Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.

For 2024, the Des Moines pay area adds a 17.68% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.

Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.

The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in Des Moines

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $4,007 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,209. 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-13 Des Moines page.

Other grades in Des Moines

GS-13 in Des Moines questions

  • How much does a GS-13 make in Des Moines?
    In 2024, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $104,170 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $135,425. This is 17.68% higher than the base GS-13 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,650 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Des Moines?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $4,007 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.