2026 GS Pay Scale — Des Moines-Ames 18.01% locality
This page lists the complete 2026 General Schedule pay table for the Des Moines-Ames locality pay area, where a locality adjustment of 18.01% is added to each base rate. All grades and steps are shown; grade twelve, step one is $90,234.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $26,651 | $27,545 | $28,431 | $29,314 | $30,198 | $30,716 | $31,592 | $32,475 | $32,512 | $33,335 |
| GS-2 | $29,966 | $30,679 | $31,673 | $32,512 | $32,875 | $33,842 | $34,808 | $35,775 | $36,741 | $37,708 |
| GS-3 | $32,698 | $33,789 | $34,879 | $35,969 | $37,060 | $38,150 | $39,241 | $40,331 | $41,422 | $42,512 |
| GS-4 | $36,705 | $37,928 | $39,152 | $40,376 | $41,600 | $42,823 | $44,047 | $45,271 | $46,495 | $47,719 |
| GS-5 | $41,066 | $42,435 | $43,804 | $45,173 | $46,542 | $47,911 | $49,280 | $50,649 | $52,018 | $53,387 |
| GS-6 | $45,777 | $47,303 | $48,829 | $50,355 | $51,881 | $53,407 | $54,932 | $56,458 | $57,984 | $59,510 |
| GS-7 | $50,869 | $52,565 | $54,261 | $55,957 | $57,653 | $59,348 | $61,044 | $62,740 | $64,436 | $66,132 |
| GS-8 | $56,336 | $58,213 | $60,091 | $61,968 | $63,846 | $65,723 | $67,601 | $69,478 | $71,356 | $73,233 |
| GS-9 | $62,223 | $64,298 | $66,372 | $68,447 | $70,522 | $72,596 | $74,671 | $76,745 | $78,820 | $80,895 |
| GS-10 | $68,521 | $70,805 | $73,088 | $75,372 | $77,655 | $79,939 | $82,222 | $84,506 | $86,789 | $89,073 |
| GS-11 | $75,284 | $77,795 | $80,305 | $82,815 | $85,325 | $87,835 | $90,345 | $92,855 | $95,365 | $97,875 |
| GS-12 | $90,234 | $93,242 | $96,250 | $99,258 | $102,266 | $105,274 | $108,282 | $111,291 | $114,299 | $117,307 |
| GS-13 | $107,301 | $110,877 | $114,454 | $118,031 | $121,608 | $125,185 | $128,762 | $132,339 | $135,916 | $139,493 |
| GS-14 | $126,797 | $131,024 | $135,251 | $139,478 | $143,705 | $147,933 | $152,160 | $156,387 | $160,614 | $164,841 |
| GS-15 | $149,146 | $154,118 | $159,089 | $164,061 | $169,033 | $174,005 | $178,976 | $183,948 | $188,920 | $193,892 |
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| Base pay (before locality) | $86,659 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA locality | 18.01% |
| Adjusted annual | $102,266 |
| Per month | $8,522 |
| Bi-weekly | $3,920.00 |
| Hourly | $49.00 |
Adjusted = base × (1 + locality %), rounded to the nearest dollar. Hourly = annual ÷ 2087; bi-weekly = hourly × 80.
Frequently asked questions
Which grades and steps does this table cover?
The table covers every General Schedule grade, each with its full set of within-grade steps, at the Des Moines-Ames locality rate for 2026.
How does Des Moines-Ames locality pay work?
Each base General Schedule rate is increased by the Des Moines-Ames locality percentage of 18.01%, giving the adjusted salary shown for 2026.
Which areas are included in the Des Moines-Ames pay area?
The Des Moines-Ames pay area covers the counties and locations that the Office of Personnel Management assigns to it, and the same 18.01% rate applies throughout that area.
Did pay change from the prior year?
Base rates were updated for 2026, while the Des Moines-Ames locality percentage remained at its prior-year level of 18.01%.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-DM · effective January 11, 2026 · Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA. Rates current as of July 20, 2026. Reference figures for general information — official pay is set by your agency, DFAS or OPM. See methodology.