2026 GS-10 Pay in Des Moines
GS-10 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-10 pay scale. That means a GS-10 Step 1 salary jumps from $58,064 on the base table to $68,521 in Des Moines.
2026 GS-10 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-10 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $68,521 | $2,635.42 | $32.83 | +$10,457 |
| Step 2 | $70,805 | $2,723.27 | $33.93 | +$10,806 |
| Step 3 | $73,088 | $2,811.08 | $35.02 | +$11,154 |
| Step 4 | $75,372 | $2,898.92 | $36.11 | +$11,503 |
| Step 5 | $77,655 | $2,986.73 | $37.21 | +$11,851 |
| Step 6 | $79,939 | $3,074.58 | $38.30 | +$12,200 |
| Step 7 | $82,222 | $3,162.38 | $39.40 | +$12,548 |
| Step 8 | $84,506 | $3,250.23 | $40.49 | +$12,897 |
| Step 9 | $86,789 | $3,338.04 | $41.59 | +$13,245 |
| Step 10 | $89,073 | $3,425.88 | $42.68 | +$13,594 |
2026 GS-10 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-10 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $68,521 | $2,635.42 | $32.83 | +$10,457 |
| Step 2 | $70,805 | $2,723.27 | $33.93 | +$10,806 |
| Step 3 | $73,088 | $2,811.08 | $35.02 | +$11,154 |
| Step 4 | $75,372 | $2,898.92 | $36.11 | +$11,503 |
| Step 5 | $77,655 | $2,986.73 | $37.21 | +$11,851 |
| Step 6 | $79,939 | $3,074.58 | $38.30 | +$12,200 |
| Step 7 | $82,222 | $3,162.38 | $39.40 | +$12,548 |
| Step 8 | $84,506 | $3,250.23 | $40.49 | +$12,897 |
| Step 9 | $86,789 | $3,338.04 | $41.59 | +$13,245 |
| Step 10 | $89,073 | $3,425.88 | $42.68 | +$13,594 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-10 in Des Moines: what to expect
Senior technician and supervisory positions, and full-performance roles in a handful of occupations such as Border Patrol and IT.
For 2026, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-10 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-9 level, plus agency-specific requirements.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-11 after one year of creditable experience in grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-10 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-10 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,635 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,426. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-10 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-10 make in Des Moines?
In 2026, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $68,521 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $89,073. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-10 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-10 in Des Moines?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Des Moines in 2026, it is 18.01%. On a GS-10 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,457 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-10 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-10 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,635 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.