2025 GS-12 Pay in Des Moines
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $75,706 on the base table to $89,341 in Des Moines.
2025 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 | $89,341 | $3,436.19 | $42.81 | +$13,635 |
| Step 2 | $92,319 | $3,550.73 | $44.24 | +$14,089 |
| Step 3 | $95,298 | $3,665.31 | $45.66 | +$14,544 |
| Step 4 | $98,276 | $3,779.85 | $47.09 | +$14,998 |
| Step 5 | $101,255 | $3,894.42 | $48.52 | +$15,453 |
| Step 6 | $104,234 | $4,009.00 | $49.94 | +$15,908 |
| Step 7 | $107,212 | $4,123.54 | $51.37 | +$16,362 |
| Step 8 | $110,191 | $4,238.12 | $52.80 | +$16,817 |
| Step 9 | $113,169 | $4,352.65 | $54.23 | +$17,271 |
| Step 10 | $116,148 | $4,467.23 | $55.65 | +$17,726 |
2025 GS-12 pay table for Des Moines
Each step below already includes the 18.01% 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 | $89,341 | $3,436.19 | $42.81 | +$13,635 |
| Step 2 | $92,319 | $3,550.73 | $44.24 | +$14,089 |
| Step 3 | $95,298 | $3,665.31 | $45.66 | +$14,544 |
| Step 4 | $98,276 | $3,779.85 | $47.09 | +$14,998 |
| Step 5 | $101,255 | $3,894.42 | $48.52 | +$15,453 |
| Step 6 | $104,234 | $4,009.00 | $49.94 | +$15,908 |
| Step 7 | $107,212 | $4,123.54 | $51.37 | +$16,362 |
| Step 8 | $110,191 | $4,238.12 | $52.80 | +$16,817 |
| Step 9 | $113,169 | $4,352.65 | $54.23 | +$17,271 |
| Step 10 | $116,148 | $4,467.23 | $55.65 | +$17,726 |
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 2025, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% 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 $3,436 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,467. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2025 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 2025, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $89,341 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $116,148. This is 18.01% 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 2025, it is 18.01%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,635 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 $3,436 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.