2025 GS-5 Pay in Des Moines
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $34,454 on the base table to $40,659 in Des Moines.
2025 GS-5 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $40,659 | $1,563.81 | $19.48 | +$6,205 |
| Step 2 | $42,014 | $1,615.92 | $20.13 | +$6,412 |
| Step 3 | $43,369 | $1,668.04 | $20.78 | +$6,619 |
| Step 4 | $44,723 | $1,720.12 | $21.43 | +$6,825 |
| Step 5 | $46,078 | $1,772.23 | $22.08 | +$7,032 |
| Step 6 | $47,433 | $1,824.35 | $22.73 | +$7,239 |
| Step 7 | $48,788 | $1,876.46 | $23.38 | +$7,446 |
| Step 8 | $50,142 | $1,928.54 | $24.03 | +$7,652 |
| Step 9 | $51,497 | $1,980.65 | $24.68 | +$7,859 |
| Step 10 | $52,852 | $2,032.77 | $25.32 | +$8,066 |
2025 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $40,659 | $1,563.81 | $19.48 | +$6,205 |
| Step 2 | $42,014 | $1,615.92 | $20.13 | +$6,412 |
| Step 3 | $43,369 | $1,668.04 | $20.78 | +$6,619 |
| Step 4 | $44,723 | $1,720.12 | $21.43 | +$6,825 |
| Step 5 | $46,078 | $1,772.23 | $22.08 | +$7,032 |
| Step 6 | $47,433 | $1,824.35 | $22.73 | +$7,239 |
| Step 7 | $48,788 | $1,876.46 | $23.38 | +$7,446 |
| Step 8 | $50,142 | $1,928.54 | $24.03 | +$7,652 |
| Step 9 | $51,497 | $1,980.65 | $24.68 | +$7,859 |
| Step 10 | $52,852 | $2,032.77 | $25.32 | +$8,066 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Des Moines: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2025, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-5 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.
Promotion path. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.
The rough military equivalent for GS-5 is E-6 Staff Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-5 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $1,564 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,033. 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-5 Des Moines page.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-5 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Des Moines?
In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $40,659 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $52,852. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 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-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,205 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $1,564 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.