2026 GS-14 Pay in Des Moines
GS-14 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-14 pay scale. That means a GS-14 Step 1 salary jumps from $107,446 on the base table to $126,797 in Des Moines.
2026 GS-14 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-14 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $126,797 | $4,876.81 | $60.76 | +$19,351 |
| Step 2 | $131,024 | $5,039.38 | $62.78 | +$19,996 |
| Step 3 | $135,251 | $5,201.96 | $64.81 | +$20,641 |
| Step 4 | $139,478 | $5,364.54 | $66.83 | +$21,286 |
| Step 5 | $143,705 | $5,527.12 | $68.86 | +$21,931 |
| Step 6 | $147,933 | $5,689.73 | $70.88 | +$22,577 |
| Step 7 | $152,160 | $5,852.31 | $72.91 | +$23,222 |
| Step 8 | $156,387 | $6,014.88 | $74.93 | +$23,867 |
| Step 9 | $160,614 | $6,177.46 | $76.96 | +$24,512 |
| Step 10 | $164,841 | $6,340.04 | $78.98 | +$25,157 |
2026 GS-14 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-14 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $126,797 | $4,876.81 | $60.76 | +$19,351 |
| Step 2 | $131,024 | $5,039.38 | $62.78 | +$19,996 |
| Step 3 | $135,251 | $5,201.96 | $64.81 | +$20,641 |
| Step 4 | $139,478 | $5,364.54 | $66.83 | +$21,286 |
| Step 5 | $143,705 | $5,527.12 | $68.86 | +$21,931 |
| Step 6 | $147,933 | $5,689.73 | $70.88 | +$22,577 |
| Step 7 | $152,160 | $5,852.31 | $72.91 | +$23,222 |
| Step 8 | $156,387 | $6,014.88 | $74.93 | +$23,867 |
| Step 9 | $160,614 | $6,177.46 | $76.96 | +$24,512 |
| Step 10 | $164,841 | $6,340.04 | $78.98 | +$25,157 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-14 in Des Moines: what to expect
Supervisory managers, senior program leads and senior technical experts. Many agency branch chiefs sit at GS-14.
For 2026, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-14 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-13 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-15 is selective; many GS-14 employees reach this grade as a career peak.
The rough military equivalent for GS-14 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-14 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-14 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $4,877 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,340. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-14 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-14 make in Des Moines?
In 2026, a GS-14 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $126,797 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $164,841. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-14 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-14 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-14 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,351 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-14 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-14 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $4,877 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.