Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners Salary in Des Moines, IA
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $35,000 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,624 take-home, or $2,469 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,020
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,170
- Medicare (1.45%)$508
- Iowa income tax$678
- Take-home pay$29,624
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,570 | $14.22 | $25,468 | $2,122 |
| 25th percentile | $31,220 | $15.01 | $26,731 | $2,228 |
| Median (50th) | $35,000 | $16.83 | $29,624 | $2,469 |
| 75th percentile | $39,230 | $18.86 | $32,862 | $2,739 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,850 | $22.52 | $38,695 | $3,225 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,000 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 janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners's $29,624 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,305 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #35 of 138 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $46,490 | $39,535 | $35,574 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $37,200 | $32,070 | $35,292 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $42,490 | $35,079 | $34,771 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $46,550 | $37,475 | $34,614 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $40,070 | $34,376 | $34,258 |
| 6 | Madison, WI | $39,680 | $33,098 | $34,021 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,490 | $29,966 | $33,827 |
| 8 | Davenport, IA | $35,560 | $30,053 | $33,737 |
| 35 | Des Moines, IA | $35,000 | $29,624 | $32,305 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 138 metros →
About the job: janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.2% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Davenport, IA — $35,560
Frequently asked questions
How much does a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners make in Des Moines, IA?
The median janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $35,000 a year, or about $16.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,220 and $39,230.
What is a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $35,000 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $29,624 a year ($2,469 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $678 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $36,840. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,305 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #35 of 138 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners 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) — 44% of a median janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.