2025 GS-6 Pay in Des Moines
GS-6 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-6 pay scale. That means a GS-6 Step 1 salary jumps from $38,407 on the base table to $45,324 in Des Moines.
2025 GS-6 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-6 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $45,324 | $1,743.23 | $21.72 | +$6,917 |
| Step 2 | $46,835 | $1,801.35 | $22.44 | +$7,148 |
| Step 3 | $48,345 | $1,859.42 | $23.16 | +$7,378 |
| Step 4 | $49,856 | $1,917.54 | $23.89 | +$7,609 |
| Step 5 | $51,366 | $1,975.62 | $24.61 | +$7,839 |
| Step 6 | $52,877 | $2,033.73 | $25.34 | +$8,070 |
| Step 7 | $54,387 | $2,091.81 | $26.06 | +$8,300 |
| Step 8 | $55,898 | $2,149.92 | $26.78 | +$8,531 |
| Step 9 | $57,408 | $2,208.00 | $27.51 | +$8,761 |
| Step 10 | $58,919 | $2,266.12 | $28.23 | +$8,992 |
2025 GS-6 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-6 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $45,324 | $1,743.23 | $21.72 | +$6,917 |
| Step 2 | $46,835 | $1,801.35 | $22.44 | +$7,148 |
| Step 3 | $48,345 | $1,859.42 | $23.16 | +$7,378 |
| Step 4 | $49,856 | $1,917.54 | $23.89 | +$7,609 |
| Step 5 | $51,366 | $1,975.62 | $24.61 | +$7,839 |
| Step 6 | $52,877 | $2,033.73 | $25.34 | +$8,070 |
| Step 7 | $54,387 | $2,091.81 | $26.06 | +$8,300 |
| Step 8 | $55,898 | $2,149.92 | $26.78 | +$8,531 |
| Step 9 | $57,408 | $2,208.00 | $27.51 | +$8,761 |
| Step 10 | $58,919 | $2,266.12 | $28.23 | +$8,992 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-6 in Des Moines: what to expect
Experienced technicians and mid-level administrative support, including contract specialists, paralegals, medical technicians and HR specialists.
For 2025, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-6 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-5 level, or a master's degree for some series.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-7 after one year of creditable experience in the grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-6 is O-1 Second Lieutenant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-6 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $1,743 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,266. 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-6 Des Moines page.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-6 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-6 make in Des Moines?
In 2025, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $45,324 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $58,919. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-6 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-6 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-6 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,917 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-6 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-6 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $1,743 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.