2026 GS-13 Pay in Des Moines
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $90,925 on the base table to $107,301 in Des Moines.
2026 GS-13 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $107,301 | $4,126.96 | $51.41 | +$16,376 |
| Step 2 | $110,877 | $4,264.50 | $53.13 | +$16,921 |
| Step 3 | $114,454 | $4,402.08 | $54.84 | +$17,467 |
| Step 4 | $118,031 | $4,539.65 | $56.56 | +$18,013 |
| Step 5 | $121,608 | $4,677.23 | $58.27 | +$18,559 |
| Step 6 | $125,185 | $4,814.81 | $59.98 | +$19,105 |
| Step 7 | $128,762 | $4,952.38 | $61.70 | +$19,651 |
| Step 8 | $132,339 | $5,089.96 | $63.41 | +$20,197 |
| Step 9 | $135,916 | $5,227.54 | $65.13 | +$20,743 |
| Step 10 | $139,493 | $5,365.12 | $66.84 | +$21,289 |
2026 GS-13 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-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $107,301 | $4,126.96 | $51.41 | +$16,376 |
| Step 2 | $110,877 | $4,264.50 | $53.13 | +$16,921 |
| Step 3 | $114,454 | $4,402.08 | $54.84 | +$17,467 |
| Step 4 | $118,031 | $4,539.65 | $56.56 | +$18,013 |
| Step 5 | $121,608 | $4,677.23 | $58.27 | +$18,559 |
| Step 6 | $125,185 | $4,814.81 | $59.98 | +$19,105 |
| Step 7 | $128,762 | $4,952.38 | $61.70 | +$19,651 |
| Step 8 | $132,339 | $5,089.96 | $63.41 | +$20,197 |
| Step 9 | $135,916 | $5,227.54 | $65.13 | +$20,743 |
| Step 10 | $139,493 | $5,365.12 | $66.84 | +$21,289 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Des Moines: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2026, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-13 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $4,127 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,365. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-13 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Des Moines?
In 2026, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $107,301 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $139,493. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,376 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $4,127 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.