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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$60,407 GS-9 Step 1 in Des Moines (2024)
$78,529 GS-9 Step 10 in Des Moines (2024)
+$9,075 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2024 GS-9 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-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $60,407 $2,323.35 $28.94 +$9,075
Step 2 $62,421 $2,400.81 $29.91 +$9,378
Step 3 $64,435 $2,478.27 $30.87 +$9,681
Step 4 $66,448 $2,555.69 $31.84 +$9,983
Step 5 $68,462 $2,633.15 $32.80 +$10,286
Step 6 $70,475 $2,710.58 $33.77 +$10,588
Step 7 $72,489 $2,788.04 $34.73 +$10,891
Step 8 $74,502 $2,865.46 $35.70 +$11,193
Step 9 $76,516 $2,942.92 $36.66 +$11,496
Step 10 $78,529 $3,020.35 $37.63 +$11,798
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Des Moines pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $51,332
  • Des Moines GS-9 Step 1 $60,407
  • Locality add-on +$9,075
  • Adjustment percent 17.68%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $66,731
  • Des Moines GS-9 Step 10 $78,529

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 2024, the Des Moines pay area adds a 17.68% 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 $2,323 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,020. 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-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 2024, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $60,407 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $78,529. This is 17.68% 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 2024, it is 17.68%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,075 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 $2,323 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.