2024 GS-8 Pay in Des Moines
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 17.68% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $46,475 on the base table to $54,692 in Des Moines.
2024 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 | $54,692 | $2,103.54 | $26.21 | +$8,217 |
| Step 2 | $56,515 | $2,173.65 | $27.08 | +$8,491 |
| Step 3 | $58,338 | $2,243.77 | $27.95 | +$8,765 |
| Step 4 | $60,160 | $2,313.85 | $28.83 | +$9,038 |
| Step 5 | $61,983 | $2,383.96 | $29.70 | +$9,312 |
| Step 6 | $63,806 | $2,454.08 | $30.57 | +$9,586 |
| Step 7 | $65,629 | $2,524.19 | $31.45 | +$9,860 |
| Step 8 | $67,452 | $2,594.31 | $32.32 | +$10,134 |
| Step 9 | $69,275 | $2,664.42 | $33.19 | +$10,408 |
| Step 10 | $71,098 | $2,734.54 | $34.07 | +$10,682 |
2024 GS-8 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-8 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $54,692 | $2,103.54 | $26.21 | +$8,217 |
| Step 2 | $56,515 | $2,173.65 | $27.08 | +$8,491 |
| Step 3 | $58,338 | $2,243.77 | $27.95 | +$8,765 |
| Step 4 | $60,160 | $2,313.85 | $28.83 | +$9,038 |
| Step 5 | $61,983 | $2,383.96 | $29.70 | +$9,312 |
| Step 6 | $63,806 | $2,454.08 | $30.57 | +$9,586 |
| Step 7 | $65,629 | $2,524.19 | $31.45 | +$9,860 |
| Step 8 | $67,452 | $2,594.31 | $32.32 | +$10,134 |
| Step 9 | $69,275 | $2,664.42 | $33.19 | +$10,408 |
| Step 10 | $71,098 | $2,734.54 | $34.07 | +$10,682 |
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 2024, the Des Moines pay area adds a 17.68% 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 $2,104 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,735. 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-8 Des Moines page.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-8 in Des Moines questions
-
How much does a GS-8 make in Des Moines?
In 2024, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $54,692 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $71,098. This is 17.68% 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 2024, it is 17.68%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,217 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 $2,104 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.