Human Resources Manager Salary in Des Moines, IA
Human Resources Managers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $138,140 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $101,087 take-home, or $8,424 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median human resources manager salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,888
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,565
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,003
- Iowa income tax$4,598
- Take-home pay$101,087
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.80% state
Human Resources Manager pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $91,450 | $43.97 | $70,342 | $5,862 |
| 25th percentile | $112,060 | $53.88 | $84,058 | $7,005 |
| Median (50th) | $138,140 | $66.41 | $101,087 | $8,424 |
| 75th percentile | $175,380 | $84.32 | $125,126 | $10,427 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $233,690 | $112.35 | $164,246 | $13,687 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $138,140 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 human resources manager's $101,087 take-home pay has the buying power of $110,236 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Human Resources Manager jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for human resources managers, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #16 of 69 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $220,460 | $144,650 | $130,996 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $191,190 | $133,038 | $124,493 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $209,340 | $137,845 | $119,230 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $184,990 | $128,708 | $118,881 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $160,580 | $115,124 | $117,989 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $158,930 | $114,062 | $117,169 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $171,360 | $128,391 | $115,529 |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | $138,560 | $105,972 | $114,963 |
| 16 | Des Moines, IA | $138,140 | $101,087 | $110,236 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 69 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources manager make in Des Moines, IA?
The median human resources manager salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $138,140 a year, or about $66.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $112,060 and $175,380.
What is a human resources manager’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $138,140 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $101,087 a year ($8,424 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,598 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a human resources manager?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $149,280. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $110,236 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #16 of 69 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a human resources manager 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) — 13% of a median human resources manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- Chief Executive — $239,200+
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $164,840
- Financial Manager — $154,140
- Managers, All Other — $139,110
- Sales Manager — $136,570
- Marketing Manager — $135,140
- Administrative Services Manager — $126,190
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $117,980
- Industrial Production Manager — $107,550
- Construction Manager — $103,920
- Facilities Manager — $103,860
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $101,550