Baker Salary in Des Moines, IA
Bakers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $37,680 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,676 take-home, or $2,640 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median baker salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,342
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,336
- Medicare (1.45%)$546
- Iowa income tax$780
- Take-home pay$31,676
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Baker pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,740 | $13.34 | $24,052 | $2,004 |
| 25th percentile | $35,510 | $17.07 | $30,015 | $2,501 |
| Median (50th) | $37,680 | $18.12 | $31,676 | $2,640 |
| 75th percentile | $41,650 | $20.02 | $34,715 | $2,893 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,700 | $23.89 | $40,877 | $3,406 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,680 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 baker's $31,676 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,543 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Baker jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for bakers, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #5 of 98 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga, TN | $40,880 | $35,027 | $38,296 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $48,180 | $40,893 | $36,796 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $42,770 | $36,546 | $36,420 |
| 4 | Bakersfield, CA | $42,470 | $35,064 | $34,756 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $37,680 | $31,676 | $34,543 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $43,760 | $36,033 | $34,288 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $47,150 | $37,986 | $34,234 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,890 | $34,232 | $34,158 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 98 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Des Moines, IA?
The median baker salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $37,680 a year, or about $18.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,510 and $41,650.
What is a baker’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $37,680 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $31,676 a year ($2,640 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $780 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a baker?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $37,160. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,543 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #5 of 98 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a baker 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) — 41% of a median baker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $71,150
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $59,980
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $51,100
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $50,850
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $48,700
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $47,880
- Food Batchmaker — $47,010
- Printing Press Operator — $43,450
- Production Workers, All Other — $40,660
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $36,770
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker — $34,380