Computer User Support Specialist Salary in Des Moines, IA
Computer User Support Specialists in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $59,450 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,341 take-home, or $4,028 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer user support specialist salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,954
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,686
- Medicare (1.45%)$862
- Iowa income tax$1,607
- Take-home pay$48,341
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Computer User Support Specialist pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,300 | $16.97 | $29,854 | $2,488 |
| 25th percentile | $47,950 | $23.05 | $39,538 | $3,295 |
| Median (50th) | $59,450 | $28.58 | $48,341 | $4,028 |
| 75th percentile | $72,380 | $34.80 | $57,651 | $4,804 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,560 | $42.10 | $67,753 | $5,646 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,450 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 computer user support specialist's $48,341 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,716 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer User Support Specialist jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for computer user support specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #29 of 165 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carson City, NV | $93,560 | $74,649 | $76,072 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $106,040 | $76,418 | $71,640 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $93,590 | $68,980 | $62,469 |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $71,750 | $56,952 | $58,369 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $78,330 | $63,935 | $57,530 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $89,440 | $66,500 | $57,519 |
| 7 | Bridgeport, CT | $78,070 | $61,033 | $57,113 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $68,330 | $56,900 | $56,855 |
| 29 | Des Moines, IA | $59,450 | $48,341 | $52,716 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 165 metros →
Computer User Support Specialist salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $58,330
- Davenport, IA — $55,850
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer user support specialist make in Des Moines, IA?
The median computer user support specialist salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $59,450 a year, or about $28.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,950 and $72,380.
What is a computer user support specialist’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $59,450 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $48,341 a year ($4,028 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,607 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a computer user support specialist?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $61,860. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,716 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #29 of 165 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer user support specialist 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) — 27% of a median computer user support specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- Software Developer — $126,460
- Information Security Analyst — $123,740
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $109,490
- Computer Network Architect — $108,280
- Data Scientist — $103,030
- Computer Systems Analyst — $102,070
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $98,190
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $89,800
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $62,050