2026 GS-5 Pay in Des Moines
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $34,799 on the base table to $41,066 in Des Moines.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,066 | $1,579.46 | $19.68 | +$6,267 |
| Step 2 | $42,435 | $1,632.12 | $20.33 | +$6,476 |
| Step 3 | $43,804 | $1,684.77 | $20.99 | +$6,685 |
| Step 4 | $45,173 | $1,737.42 | $21.64 | +$6,894 |
| Step 5 | $46,542 | $1,790.08 | $22.30 | +$7,103 |
| Step 6 | $47,911 | $1,842.73 | $22.96 | +$7,312 |
| Step 7 | $49,280 | $1,895.38 | $23.61 | +$7,521 |
| Step 8 | $50,649 | $1,948.04 | $24.27 | +$7,730 |
| Step 9 | $52,018 | $2,000.69 | $24.92 | +$7,939 |
| Step 10 | $53,387 | $2,053.35 | $25.58 | +$8,148 |
2026 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,066 | $1,579.46 | $19.68 | +$6,267 |
| Step 2 | $42,435 | $1,632.12 | $20.33 | +$6,476 |
| Step 3 | $43,804 | $1,684.77 | $20.99 | +$6,685 |
| Step 4 | $45,173 | $1,737.42 | $21.64 | +$6,894 |
| Step 5 | $46,542 | $1,790.08 | $22.30 | +$7,103 |
| Step 6 | $47,911 | $1,842.73 | $22.96 | +$7,312 |
| Step 7 | $49,280 | $1,895.38 | $23.61 | +$7,521 |
| Step 8 | $50,649 | $1,948.04 | $24.27 | +$7,730 |
| Step 9 | $52,018 | $2,000.69 | $24.92 | +$7,939 |
| Step 10 | $53,387 | $2,053.35 | $25.58 | +$8,148 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Des Moines: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-5 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.
Promotion path. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.
The rough military equivalent for GS-5 is E-6 Staff Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-5 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $1,579 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,053. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-5 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Des Moines?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $41,066 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,387. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 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-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,267 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $1,579 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.