Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Des Moines, IA
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $61,650 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,025 take-home, or $4,169 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,218
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,822
- Medicare (1.45%)$894
- Iowa income tax$1,691
- Take-home pay$50,025
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,090 | $22.16 | $38,114 | $3,176 |
| 25th percentile | $49,630 | $23.86 | $40,824 | $3,402 |
| Median (50th) | $61,650 | $29.64 | $50,025 | $4,169 |
| 75th percentile | $64,000 | $30.77 | $51,824 | $4,319 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,610 | $38.27 | $62,462 | $5,205 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,650 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 elementary school teachers, except special education's $50,025 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,552 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for elementary school teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #52 of 99 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,920 | $81,234 | $73,096 |
| 2 | Visalia, CA | $98,430 | $71,872 | $71,998 |
| 3 | Modesto, CA | $101,640 | $73,789 | $70,878 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $103,390 | $74,835 | $70,156 |
| 5 | Bridgeport, CT | $98,600 | $74,347 | $69,572 |
| 6 | Dayton, OH | $80,360 | $63,936 | $68,975 |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $97,400 | $71,256 | $67,805 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $98,520 | $71,925 | $67,572 |
| 52 | Des Moines, IA | $61,650 | $50,025 | $54,552 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 99 metros →
About the job: elementary school teachers, except special education
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.4% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make in Des Moines, IA?
The median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $61,650 a year, or about $29.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,630 and $64,000.
What is a elementary school teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $61,650 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $50,025 a year ($4,169 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,691 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a elementary school teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $63,970. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,552 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #52 of 99 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a elementary school teachers, except special education 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 elementary school teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.