Carpenter Salary in Des Moines, IA
Carpenters in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $61,360 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,803 take-home, or $4,150 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,183
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,804
- Medicare (1.45%)$890
- Iowa income tax$1,680
- Take-home pay$49,803
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,560 | $21.42 | $36,942 | $3,079 |
| 25th percentile | $49,990 | $24.03 | $41,099 | $3,425 |
| Median (50th) | $61,360 | $29.50 | $49,803 | $4,150 |
| 75th percentile | $74,220 | $35.68 | $58,875 | $4,906 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,670 | $36.86 | $60,506 | $5,042 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,360 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 carpenter's $49,803 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,310 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Carpenter jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #35 of 194 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh, WI | $84,430 | $65,132 | $70,088 |
| 2 | Peoria, IL | $75,280 | $58,208 | $63,803 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $69,540 | $62,670 |
| 4 | Rockford, IL | $72,770 | $56,566 | $61,382 |
| 5 | Springfield, MA | $75,520 | $58,402 | $60,797 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $61,583 | $59,445 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $56,372 | $59,284 |
| 8 | Elkhart, IN | $65,520 | $52,922 | $58,591 |
| 35 | Des Moines, IA | $61,360 | $49,803 | $54,310 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 194 metros →
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Davenport, IA — $60,440
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $58,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Des Moines, IA?
The median carpenter salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $61,360 a year, or about $29.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,990 and $74,220.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $61,360 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $49,803 a year ($4,150 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,680 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,310 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #35 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter 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) — 26% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,090
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $75,040
- Electrician — $62,840
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $62,610
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $60,900
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $59,700
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $57,410
- Construction Laborer — $49,980