Home Health and Personal Care Aide Salary in Des Moines, IA
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $36,350 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,658 take-home, or $2,555 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median home health and personal care aide salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,182
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,254
- Medicare (1.45%)$527
- Iowa income tax$730
- Take-home pay$30,658
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Home Health and Personal Care Aide pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,800 | $14.81 | $26,409 | $2,201 |
| 25th percentile | $35,050 | $16.85 | $29,663 | $2,472 |
| Median (50th) | $36,350 | $17.48 | $30,658 | $2,555 |
| 75th percentile | $37,790 | $18.17 | $31,760 | $2,647 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,520 | $21.40 | $36,912 | $3,076 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,350 buys in Des Moines, IA
Prices in Des Moines, IA are 8.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median home health and personal care aide's $30,658 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,432 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Home Health and Personal Care Aide jobs are less concentrated in Des Moines, IA than nationally (location quotient 0.55), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for home health and personal care aides, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #23 of 180 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grants Pass, OR | $53,120 | $41,044 | $41,984 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $47,810 | $40,595 | $40,563 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $47,410 | $40,274 | $40,135 |
| 4 | Yakima, WA | $44,490 | $37,928 | $39,696 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $48,210 | $40,917 | $36,818 |
| 6 | Bellingham, WA | $44,080 | $37,598 | $36,385 |
| 7 | Olympia, WA | $44,060 | $37,582 | $36,252 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $37,910 | $32,641 | $35,920 |
| 23 | Des Moines, IA | $36,350 | $30,658 | $33,432 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 180 metros →
About the job: home health and personal care aides
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +18.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home health and personal care aide make in Des Moines, IA?
The median home health and personal care aide salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $36,350 a year, or about $17.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,050 and $37,790.
What is a home health and personal care aide’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $36,350 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $30,658 a year ($2,555 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $730 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a home health and personal care aide?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,800. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,432 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #23 of 180 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a home health and personal care aide afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Des Moines, IA is $1,092 a month ($1,302 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median home health and personal care aide’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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