Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in Des Moines, IA
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $46,370 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,328 take-home, or $3,194 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,384
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,875
- Medicare (1.45%)$672
- Iowa income tax$1,110
- Take-home pay$38,328
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,580 | $16.14 | $28,537 | $2,378 |
| 25th percentile | $38,010 | $18.27 | $31,928 | $2,661 |
| Median (50th) | $46,370 | $22.29 | $38,328 | $3,194 |
| 75th percentile | $49,980 | $24.03 | $41,091 | $3,424 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,770 | $26.81 | $45,524 | $3,794 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,370 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 laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand's $38,328 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,797 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #3 of 164 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo, IA | $47,440 | $39,147 | $44,967 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $45,690 | $38,892 | $42,799 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $46,370 | $38,328 | $41,797 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | $46,830 | $38,286 | $41,135 |
| 5 | Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | $38,919 | $41,122 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $43,300 | $35,978 | $40,441 |
| 7 | Youngstown, OH | $41,540 | $35,197 | $40,274 |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $43,390 | $37,044 | $40,197 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 164 metros →
About the job: laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Waterloo, IA — $47,440
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $43,300
- Davenport, IA — $42,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in Des Moines, IA?
The median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $46,370 a year, or about $22.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,010 and $49,980.
What is a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $46,370 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $38,328 a year ($3,194 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,110 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $40,240. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,797 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #3 of 164 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 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) — 34% of a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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