2026 GS-9 Pay in Des Moines
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA earn 18.01% on top of the base GS-9 pay scale. That means a GS-9 Step 1 salary jumps from $52,727 on the base table to $62,223 in Des Moines.
2026 GS-9 Pay in Des Moines
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $62,223 | $2,393.19 | $29.81 | +$9,496 |
| Step 2 | $64,298 | $2,473.00 | $30.81 | +$9,813 |
| Step 3 | $66,372 | $2,552.77 | $31.80 | +$10,129 |
| Step 4 | $68,447 | $2,632.58 | $32.80 | +$10,446 |
| Step 5 | $70,522 | $2,712.38 | $33.79 | +$10,763 |
| Step 6 | $72,596 | $2,792.15 | $34.78 | +$11,079 |
| Step 7 | $74,671 | $2,871.96 | $35.78 | +$11,396 |
| Step 8 | $76,745 | $2,951.73 | $36.77 | +$11,712 |
| Step 9 | $78,820 | $3,031.54 | $37.77 | +$12,029 |
| Step 10 | $80,895 | $3,111.35 | $38.76 | +$12,346 |
2026 GS-9 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-9 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $62,223 | $2,393.19 | $29.81 | +$9,496 |
| Step 2 | $64,298 | $2,473.00 | $30.81 | +$9,813 |
| Step 3 | $66,372 | $2,552.77 | $31.80 | +$10,129 |
| Step 4 | $68,447 | $2,632.58 | $32.80 | +$10,446 |
| Step 5 | $70,522 | $2,712.38 | $33.79 | +$10,763 |
| Step 6 | $72,596 | $2,792.15 | $34.78 | +$11,079 |
| Step 7 | $74,671 | $2,871.96 | $35.78 | +$11,396 |
| Step 8 | $76,745 | $2,951.73 | $36.77 | +$11,712 |
| Step 9 | $78,820 | $3,031.54 | $37.77 | +$12,029 |
| Step 10 | $80,895 | $3,111.35 | $38.76 | +$12,346 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Des Moines pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Des Moines: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2026, the Des Moines pay area adds a 18.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-9 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A master's degree or equivalent graduate education, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.
Promotion path. Career-ladder promotion to GS-11 after one year of specialized GS-9 experience.
The rough military equivalent for GS-9 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-9 in Des Moines
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,393 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,111. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Des Moines
GS-9 in Des Moines questions
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How much does a GS-9 make in Des Moines?
In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns $62,223 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $80,895. This is 18.01% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 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-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,496 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Des Moines?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Des Moines earns roughly $2,393 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.