2025 GS-13 Pay in Des Moines
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $90,025 on the base table to $106,239 in Des Moines.
2025 GS-13 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $106,239 | $4,086.12 | $50.91 | +$16,214 |
| Step 2 | $109,780 | $4,222.31 | $52.60 | +$16,754 |
| Step 3 | $113,321 | $4,358.50 | $54.30 | +$17,294 |
| Step 4 | $116,863 | $4,494.73 | $56.00 | +$17,835 |
| Step 5 | $120,404 | $4,630.92 | $57.69 | +$18,375 |
| Step 6 | $123,946 | $4,767.15 | $59.39 | +$18,916 |
| Step 7 | $127,487 | $4,903.35 | $61.09 | +$19,456 |
| Step 8 | $131,029 | $5,039.58 | $62.78 | +$19,997 |
| Step 9 | $134,570 | $5,175.77 | $64.48 | +$20,537 |
| Step 10 | $138,112 | $5,312.00 | $66.18 | +$21,078 |
2025 GS-13 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-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $106,239 | $4,086.12 | $50.91 | +$16,214 |
| Step 2 | $109,780 | $4,222.31 | $52.60 | +$16,754 |
| Step 3 | $113,321 | $4,358.50 | $54.30 | +$17,294 |
| Step 4 | $116,863 | $4,494.73 | $56.00 | +$17,835 |
| Step 5 | $120,404 | $4,630.92 | $57.69 | +$18,375 |
| Step 6 | $123,946 | $4,767.15 | $59.39 | +$18,916 |
| Step 7 | $127,487 | $4,903.35 | $61.09 | +$19,456 |
| Step 8 | $131,029 | $5,039.58 | $62.78 | +$19,997 |
| Step 9 | $134,570 | $5,175.77 | $64.48 | +$20,537 |
| Step 10 | $138,112 | $5,312.00 | $66.18 | +$21,078 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
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 2025, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% 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 $4,086 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,312. 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-13 Des Moines page.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-13 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Des Moines?
In 2025, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $106,239 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $138,112. This is 18.01% 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 2025, it is 18.01%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,214 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 $4,086 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.