Electrician Salary in Des Moines, IA
Electricians in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $62,840 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,936 take-home, or $4,245 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrician salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,361
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,896
- Medicare (1.45%)$911
- Iowa income tax$1,736
- Take-home pay$50,936
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Electrician pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,740 | $19.11 | $33,253 | $2,771 |
| 25th percentile | $46,850 | $22.52 | $38,695 | $3,225 |
| Median (50th) | $62,840 | $30.21 | $50,936 | $4,245 |
| 75th percentile | $80,430 | $38.67 | $63,008 | $5,251 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,650 | $44.54 | $71,140 | $5,928 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,840 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 electrician's $50,936 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,546 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Des Moines, IA has 1.5× the national concentration of electrician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for electricians, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #101 of 221 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon, WA | $104,510 | $82,353 | $80,389 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $99,850 | $79,074 | $79,012 |
| 3 | Kokomo, IN | $91,290 | $70,389 | $78,517 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $97,590 | $77,485 | $74,985 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $96,600 | $76,788 | $74,070 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $102,350 | $75,912 | $73,277 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $101,780 | $80,432 | $72,375 |
| 8 | Trenton, NJ | $98,210 | $73,855 | $71,579 |
| 101 | Des Moines, IA | $62,840 | $50,936 | $55,546 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 221 metros →
Electrician salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Davenport, IA — $76,950
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $50,230
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrician make in Des Moines, IA?
The median electrician salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $62,840 a year, or about $30.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,850 and $80,430.
What is a electrician’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $62,840 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $50,936 a year ($4,245 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,736 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a electrician?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $63,190. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,546 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #101 of 221 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrician 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 electrician’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
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $62,610
- Carpenter — $61,360
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $60,900
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $59,700
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $57,410
- Construction Laborer — $49,980