2025 GS-9 Pay in Des Moines
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-9 pay scale. That means a GS-9 Step 1 salary jumps from $52,205 on the base table to $61,607 in Des Moines.
2025 GS-9 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $61,607 | $2,369.50 | $29.52 | +$9,402 |
| Step 2 | $63,660 | $2,448.46 | $30.50 | +$9,715 |
| Step 3 | $65,714 | $2,527.46 | $31.49 | +$10,029 |
| Step 4 | $67,767 | $2,606.42 | $32.47 | +$10,342 |
| Step 5 | $69,821 | $2,685.42 | $33.46 | +$10,656 |
| Step 6 | $71,874 | $2,764.38 | $34.44 | +$10,969 |
| Step 7 | $73,927 | $2,843.35 | $35.42 | +$11,282 |
| Step 8 | $75,981 | $2,922.35 | $36.41 | +$11,596 |
| Step 9 | $78,034 | $3,001.31 | $37.39 | +$11,909 |
| Step 10 | $80,087 | $3,080.27 | $38.37 | +$12,222 |
2025 GS-9 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-9 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $61,607 | $2,369.50 | $29.52 | +$9,402 |
| Step 2 | $63,660 | $2,448.46 | $30.50 | +$9,715 |
| Step 3 | $65,714 | $2,527.46 | $31.49 | +$10,029 |
| Step 4 | $67,767 | $2,606.42 | $32.47 | +$10,342 |
| Step 5 | $69,821 | $2,685.42 | $33.46 | +$10,656 |
| Step 6 | $71,874 | $2,764.38 | $34.44 | +$10,969 |
| Step 7 | $73,927 | $2,843.35 | $35.42 | +$11,282 |
| Step 8 | $75,981 | $2,922.35 | $36.41 | +$11,596 |
| Step 9 | $78,034 | $3,001.31 | $37.39 | +$11,909 |
| Step 10 | $80,087 | $3,080.27 | $38.37 | +$12,222 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Des Moines: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2025, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-9 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A master's degree or equivalent graduate education, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.
Promotion path. Career-ladder promotion to GS-11 after one year of specialized GS-9 experience.
The rough military equivalent for GS-9 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-9 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,370 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,080. 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-9 Des Moines page.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-9 in Des Moines questions
-
How much does a GS-9 make in Des Moines?
In 2025, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $61,607 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $80,087. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 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-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,402 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,370 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.