2026 GS-8 Pay in Des Moines
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $47,738 on the base table to $56,336 in Des Moines.
2026 GS-8 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $56,336 | $2,166.77 | $26.99 | +$8,598 |
| Step 2 | $58,213 | $2,238.96 | $27.89 | +$8,884 |
| Step 3 | $60,091 | $2,311.19 | $28.79 | +$9,171 |
| Step 4 | $61,968 | $2,383.38 | $29.69 | +$9,457 |
| Step 5 | $63,846 | $2,455.62 | $30.59 | +$9,744 |
| Step 6 | $65,723 | $2,527.81 | $31.49 | +$10,030 |
| Step 7 | $67,601 | $2,600.04 | $32.39 | +$10,317 |
| Step 8 | $69,478 | $2,672.23 | $33.29 | +$10,603 |
| Step 9 | $71,356 | $2,744.46 | $34.19 | +$10,890 |
| Step 10 | $73,233 | $2,816.65 | $35.09 | +$11,176 |
2026 GS-8 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-8 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $56,336 | $2,166.77 | $26.99 | +$8,598 |
| Step 2 | $58,213 | $2,238.96 | $27.89 | +$8,884 |
| Step 3 | $60,091 | $2,311.19 | $28.79 | +$9,171 |
| Step 4 | $61,968 | $2,383.38 | $29.69 | +$9,457 |
| Step 5 | $63,846 | $2,455.62 | $30.59 | +$9,744 |
| Step 6 | $65,723 | $2,527.81 | $31.49 | +$10,030 |
| Step 7 | $67,601 | $2,600.04 | $32.39 | +$10,317 |
| Step 8 | $69,478 | $2,672.23 | $33.29 | +$10,603 |
| Step 9 | $71,356 | $2,744.46 | $34.19 | +$10,890 |
| Step 10 | $73,233 | $2,816.65 | $35.09 | +$11,176 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Des Moines: what to expect
Senior technicians, investigators and lead administrative support. Less common than GS-7 or GS-9, often reserved for specialized technical work.
For 2026, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-8 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-7 level.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-9 after one year in grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-8 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-8 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,167 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,817. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-8 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Des Moines?
In 2026, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $56,336 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $73,233. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 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-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,598 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,167 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.