Highway Maintenance Worker Salary in Des Moines, IA
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $60,900 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,451 take-home, or $4,121 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median highway maintenance worker salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,128
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,776
- Medicare (1.45%)$883
- Iowa income tax$1,662
- Take-home pay$49,451
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Highway Maintenance Worker pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,060 | $24.07 | $41,153 | $3,429 |
| 25th percentile | $56,020 | $26.93 | $45,715 | $3,810 |
| Median (50th) | $60,900 | $29.28 | $49,451 | $4,121 |
| 75th percentile | $67,900 | $32.64 | $54,669 | $4,556 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,990 | $36.53 | $60,053 | $5,004 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,900 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 highway maintenance worker's $49,451 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,926 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 1.4× the national concentration of highway maintenance worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for highway maintenance workers, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #3 of 49 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $76,220 | $58,823 | $56,781 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $75,030 | $61,614 | $55,441 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $60,900 | $49,451 | $53,926 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $63,530 | $51,212 | $52,640 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $66,310 | $53,388 | $51,961 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,660 | $49,032 | $50,582 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,650 | $50,518 | $48,194 |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | $58,470 | $46,600 | $48,024 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 49 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make in Des Moines, IA?
The median highway maintenance worker salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $60,900 a year, or about $29.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $56,020 and $67,900.
What is a highway maintenance worker’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $60,900 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $49,451 a year ($4,121 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,662 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a highway maintenance worker?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $50,260. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,926 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #3 of 49 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a highway maintenance worker 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 highway maintenance worker’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
- Carpenter — $61,360
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $59,700
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $57,410
- Construction Laborer — $49,980