2025 GS-8 Pay in Des Moines
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $47,265 on the base table to $55,777 in Des Moines.
2025 GS-8 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $55,777 | $2,145.27 | $26.73 | +$8,512 |
| Step 2 | $57,637 | $2,216.81 | $27.62 | +$8,796 |
| Step 3 | $59,497 | $2,288.35 | $28.51 | +$9,080 |
| Step 4 | $61,357 | $2,359.88 | $29.40 | +$9,364 |
| Step 5 | $63,217 | $2,431.42 | $30.29 | +$9,648 |
| Step 6 | $65,077 | $2,502.96 | $31.18 | +$9,932 |
| Step 7 | $66,936 | $2,574.46 | $32.07 | +$10,215 |
| Step 8 | $68,796 | $2,646.00 | $32.96 | +$10,499 |
| Step 9 | $70,656 | $2,717.54 | $33.86 | +$10,783 |
| Step 10 | $72,516 | $2,789.08 | $34.75 | +$11,067 |
2025 GS-8 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-8 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $55,777 | $2,145.27 | $26.73 | +$8,512 |
| Step 2 | $57,637 | $2,216.81 | $27.62 | +$8,796 |
| Step 3 | $59,497 | $2,288.35 | $28.51 | +$9,080 |
| Step 4 | $61,357 | $2,359.88 | $29.40 | +$9,364 |
| Step 5 | $63,217 | $2,431.42 | $30.29 | +$9,648 |
| Step 6 | $65,077 | $2,502.96 | $31.18 | +$9,932 |
| Step 7 | $66,936 | $2,574.46 | $32.07 | +$10,215 |
| Step 8 | $68,796 | $2,646.00 | $32.96 | +$10,499 |
| Step 9 | $70,656 | $2,717.54 | $33.86 | +$10,783 |
| Step 10 | $72,516 | $2,789.08 | $34.75 | +$11,067 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Des Moines: what to expect
Senior technicians, investigators and lead administrative support. Less common than GS-7 or GS-9, often reserved for specialized technical work.
For 2025, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-8 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-7 level.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-9 after one year in grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-8 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-8 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,145 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,789. 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-8 Des Moines page.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-8 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Des Moines?
In 2025, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $55,777 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $72,516. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 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-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,512 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,145 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.