2026 GS-11 Pay in Des Moines
GS-11 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-11 pay scale. That means a GS-11 Step 1 salary jumps from $63,795 on the base table to $75,284 in Des Moines.
2026 GS-11 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-11 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $75,284 | $2,895.54 | $36.07 | +$11,489 |
| Step 2 | $77,795 | $2,992.12 | $37.28 | +$11,873 |
| Step 3 | $80,305 | $3,088.65 | $38.48 | +$12,256 |
| Step 4 | $82,815 | $3,185.19 | $39.68 | +$12,639 |
| Step 5 | $85,325 | $3,281.73 | $40.88 | +$13,022 |
| Step 6 | $87,835 | $3,378.27 | $42.09 | +$13,405 |
| Step 7 | $90,345 | $3,474.81 | $43.29 | +$13,788 |
| Step 8 | $92,855 | $3,571.35 | $44.49 | +$14,171 |
| Step 9 | $95,365 | $3,667.88 | $45.69 | +$14,554 |
| Step 10 | $97,875 | $3,764.42 | $46.90 | +$14,937 |
2026 GS-11 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-11 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $75,284 | $2,895.54 | $36.07 | +$11,489 |
| Step 2 | $77,795 | $2,992.12 | $37.28 | +$11,873 |
| Step 3 | $80,305 | $3,088.65 | $38.48 | +$12,256 |
| Step 4 | $82,815 | $3,185.19 | $39.68 | +$12,639 |
| Step 5 | $85,325 | $3,281.73 | $40.88 | +$13,022 |
| Step 6 | $87,835 | $3,378.27 | $42.09 | +$13,405 |
| Step 7 | $90,345 | $3,474.81 | $43.29 | +$13,788 |
| Step 8 | $92,855 | $3,571.35 | $44.49 | +$14,171 |
| Step 9 | $95,365 | $3,667.88 | $45.69 | +$14,554 |
| Step 10 | $97,875 | $3,764.42 | $46.90 | +$14,937 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-11 in Des Moines: what to expect
Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.
For 2026, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.
Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.
The rough military equivalent for GS-11 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-11 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,896 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,764. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-11 in Des Moines questions
-
How much does a GS-11 make in Des Moines?
In 2026, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $75,284 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $97,875. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-11 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 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-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,489 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,896 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.