Office Clerks, General Salary in Des Moines, IA
Office Clerks, General in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $46,540 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,458 take-home, or $3,205 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median office clerks, general salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,405
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,885
- Medicare (1.45%)$675
- Iowa income tax$1,117
- Take-home pay$38,458
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Office Clerks, General pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,600 | $15.19 | $27,022 | $2,252 |
| 25th percentile | $37,520 | $18.04 | $31,553 | $2,629 |
| Median (50th) | $46,540 | $22.38 | $38,458 | $3,205 |
| 75th percentile | $53,790 | $25.86 | $44,008 | $3,667 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,180 | $29.89 | $50,431 | $4,203 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,540 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 office clerks, general's $38,458 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,939 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Office Clerks, General jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for office clerks, general, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #4 of 157 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo, ND | $49,060 | $41,600 | $45,779 |
| 2 | Duluth, MN | $46,820 | $38,114 | $42,936 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $58,840 | $47,113 | $42,666 |
| 4 | Des Moines, IA | $46,540 | $38,458 | $41,939 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $53,990 | $43,894 | $41,495 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $49,230 | $41,736 | $41,317 |
| 7 | Santa Maria, CA | $55,620 | $44,761 | $41,141 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $45,640 | $37,644 | $40,677 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 157 metros →
About the job: office clerks, general
Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -6.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Office Clerks, General salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Davenport, IA — $42,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a office clerks, general make in Des Moines, IA?
The median office clerks, general salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $46,540 a year, or about $22.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,520 and $53,790.
What is a office clerks, general’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $46,540 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $38,458 a year ($3,205 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,117 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a office clerks, general?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $45,010. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,939 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #4 of 157 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a office clerks, general 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) — 34% of a median office clerks, general’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $71,690
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,610
- Customer Service Representative — $48,880
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,500
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $42,160