2024 GS-5 Pay in Des Moines
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 17.68% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $33,878 on the base table to $39,868 in Des Moines.
2024 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 | $39,868 | $1,533.38 | $19.10 | +$5,990 |
| Step 2 | $41,196 | $1,584.46 | $19.74 | +$6,189 |
| Step 3 | $42,525 | $1,635.58 | $20.38 | +$6,389 |
| Step 4 | $43,853 | $1,686.65 | $21.01 | +$6,588 |
| Step 5 | $45,182 | $1,737.77 | $21.65 | +$6,788 |
| Step 6 | $46,511 | $1,788.88 | $22.29 | +$6,988 |
| Step 7 | $47,839 | $1,839.96 | $22.92 | +$7,187 |
| Step 8 | $49,168 | $1,891.08 | $23.56 | +$7,387 |
| Step 9 | $50,496 | $1,942.15 | $24.20 | +$7,586 |
| Step 10 | $51,825 | $1,993.27 | $24.83 | +$7,786 |
2024 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $39,868 | $1,533.38 | $19.10 | +$5,990 |
| Step 2 | $41,196 | $1,584.46 | $19.74 | +$6,189 |
| Step 3 | $42,525 | $1,635.58 | $20.38 | +$6,389 |
| Step 4 | $43,853 | $1,686.65 | $21.01 | +$6,588 |
| Step 5 | $45,182 | $1,737.77 | $21.65 | +$6,788 |
| Step 6 | $46,511 | $1,788.88 | $22.29 | +$6,988 |
| Step 7 | $47,839 | $1,839.96 | $22.92 | +$7,187 |
| Step 8 | $49,168 | $1,891.08 | $23.56 | +$7,387 |
| Step 9 | $50,496 | $1,942.15 | $24.20 | +$7,586 |
| Step 10 | $51,825 | $1,993.27 | $24.83 | +$7,786 |
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 2024, the Des Moines pay area adds a 17.68% 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 $1,533 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,993. 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-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 2024, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $39,868 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $51,825. This is 17.68% 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 2024, it is 17.68%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,990 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 $1,533 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.