2025 GS-14 Pay in Des Moines
GS-14 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-14 pay scale. That means a GS-14 Step 1 salary jumps from $106,382 on the base table to $125,541 in Des Moines.
2025 GS-14 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-14 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $125,541 | $4,828.50 | $60.15 | +$19,159 |
| Step 2 | $129,726 | $4,989.46 | $62.16 | +$19,798 |
| Step 3 | $133,911 | $5,150.42 | $64.16 | +$20,437 |
| Step 4 | $138,095 | $5,311.35 | $66.17 | +$21,075 |
| Step 5 | $142,280 | $5,472.31 | $68.17 | +$21,714 |
| Step 6 | $146,465 | $5,633.27 | $70.18 | +$22,353 |
| Step 7 | $150,649 | $5,794.19 | $72.18 | +$22,991 |
| Step 8 | $154,834 | $5,955.15 | $74.19 | +$23,630 |
| Step 9 | $159,018 | $6,116.08 | $76.19 | +$24,268 |
| Step 10 | $163,203 | $6,277.04 | $78.20 | +$24,907 |
2025 GS-14 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-14 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $125,541 | $4,828.50 | $60.15 | +$19,159 |
| Step 2 | $129,726 | $4,989.46 | $62.16 | +$19,798 |
| Step 3 | $133,911 | $5,150.42 | $64.16 | +$20,437 |
| Step 4 | $138,095 | $5,311.35 | $66.17 | +$21,075 |
| Step 5 | $142,280 | $5,472.31 | $68.17 | +$21,714 |
| Step 6 | $146,465 | $5,633.27 | $70.18 | +$22,353 |
| Step 7 | $150,649 | $5,794.19 | $72.18 | +$22,991 |
| Step 8 | $154,834 | $5,955.15 | $74.19 | +$23,630 |
| Step 9 | $159,018 | $6,116.08 | $76.19 | +$24,268 |
| Step 10 | $163,203 | $6,277.04 | $78.20 | +$24,907 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-14 in Des Moines: what to expect
Supervisory managers, senior program leads and senior technical experts. Many agency branch chiefs sit at GS-14.
For 2025, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-14 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-13 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-15 is selective; many GS-14 employees reach this grade as a career peak.
The rough military equivalent for GS-14 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-14 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-14 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $4,829 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,277. 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-14 Des Moines page.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-14 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-14 make in Des Moines?
In 2025, a GS-14 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $125,541 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $163,203. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-14 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-14 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-14 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,159 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-14 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-14 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $4,829 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.