Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Des Moines, IA
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $62,480 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,660 take-home, or $4,222 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,318
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,874
- Medicare (1.45%)$906
- Iowa income tax$1,722
- Take-home pay$50,660
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,870 | $23.01 | $39,476 | $3,290 |
| 25th percentile | $50,980 | $24.51 | $41,857 | $3,488 |
| Median (50th) | $62,480 | $30.04 | $50,660 | $4,222 |
| 75th percentile | $77,550 | $37.28 | $61,091 | $5,091 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,100 | $39.47 | $64,119 | $5,343 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,480 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $50,660 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,245 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #53 of 84 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,670 | $81,058 | $72,938 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $100,750 | $73,258 | $71,710 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,150 | $72,302 | $71,667 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $98,970 | $73,701 | $71,144 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | $75,833 | $71,091 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $108,230 | $77,727 | $70,390 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $92,110 | $70,792 | $69,559 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $81,820 | $64,923 | $69,533 |
| 53 | Des Moines, IA | $62,480 | $50,660 | $55,245 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 84 metros →
About the job: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Des Moines, IA?
The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $62,480 a year, or about $30.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,980 and $77,550.
What is a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $62,480 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $50,660 a year ($4,222 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,722 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $72,040. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,245 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #53 of 84 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.