Bus Drivers, School Salary in Des Moines, IA
Bus Drivers, School in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $46,210 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,206 take-home, or $3,184 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,365
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,865
- Medicare (1.45%)$670
- Iowa income tax$1,104
- Take-home pay$38,206
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,410 | $13.66 | $24,578 | $2,048 |
| 25th percentile | $44,790 | $21.53 | $37,119 | $3,093 |
| Median (50th) | $46,210 | $22.22 | $38,206 | $3,184 |
| 75th percentile | $57,320 | $27.56 | $46,710 | $3,893 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,850 | $30.22 | $50,943 | $4,245 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,210 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 bus drivers, school's $38,206 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,663 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bus Drivers, School jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #58 of 141 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $65,730 | $51,928 | $54,057 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $75,230 | $57,970 | $52,498 |
| 3 | Worcester, MA | $65,640 | $51,860 | $50,584 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $66,380 | $55,516 | $49,955 |
| 5 | Waterbury, CT | $61,550 | $49,791 | $49,901 |
| 6 | Trenton, NJ | $63,400 | $51,167 | $49,590 |
| 7 | Monroe, LA | $50,060 | $41,288 | $49,389 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $73,680 | $57,024 | $49,323 |
| 58 | Des Moines, IA | $46,210 | $38,206 | $41,663 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 141 metros →
Bus Drivers, School salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Davenport, IA — $46,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Des Moines, IA?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $46,210 a year, or about $22.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,790 and $57,320.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $46,210 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $38,206 a year ($3,184 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,104 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,663 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #58 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school 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 bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $61,340
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,720
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $56,990
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,080
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,370
- Driver/Sales Worker — $46,330
- Light Truck Driver — $43,200
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $37,540
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,800
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $36,770
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $34,680