Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant Salary in Des Moines, IA
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $42,160 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,105 take-home, or $2,925 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical secretary and administrative assistant salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,879
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,614
- Medicare (1.45%)$611
- Iowa income tax$950
- Take-home pay$35,105
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,550 | $17.57 | $30,811 | $2,568 |
| 25th percentile | $38,380 | $18.45 | $32,212 | $2,684 |
| Median (50th) | $42,160 | $20.27 | $35,105 | $2,925 |
| 75th percentile | $46,840 | $22.52 | $38,688 | $3,224 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,140 | $23.63 | $40,448 | $3,371 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,160 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 medical secretary and administrative assistant's $35,105 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,282 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for medical secretaries and administrative assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #28 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 | $69,350 | $54,380 | $49,247 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $60,350 | $50,671 | $45,595 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $57,730 | $46,302 | $43,407 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $61,330 | $48,932 | $42,324 |
| 5 | Winston, NC | $46,370 | $38,097 | $41,390 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $45,920 | $38,596 | $41,094 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,310 | $39,127 | $40,950 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $46,180 | $38,798 | $40,682 |
| 28 | Des Moines, IA | $42,160 | $35,105 | $38,282 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 69 metros →
About the job: medical secretaries and administrative assistants
Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical secretary and administrative assistant make in Des Moines, IA?
The median medical secretary and administrative assistant salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $42,160 a year, or about $20.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,380 and $46,840.
What is a medical secretary and administrative assistant’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $42,160 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $35,105 a year ($2,925 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $950 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a medical secretary and administrative assistant?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $45,930. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,282 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #28 of 69 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical secretary and administrative assistant 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) — 37% of a median medical secretary and administrative assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.