SOC 25-2032 · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Des Moines, IA

The average salary for career/technical education teachers, secondary school in Des Moines, Iowa is $61,990 a year, according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $60,980: half of the 120 people in this job in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,680).

$61,990average per year

Median $60,980Take-home ≈ $50,245

  • $44K10th
  • $56K25th
  • $61KMedian
  • $63K75th
  • $83K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

120people in this job
-15%vs U.S. average
#2 of 3Iowa metros
92cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School pay range in Des Moines

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,730 or more. The middle half of career/technical education teachers, secondary school in Des Moines earn between $56,140 and $63,330.

  • $44K10th
  • $56K25th
  • $61KMedian
  • $63K75th
  • $83K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$61,990$5,166—
Median$60,980$5,082—
Entry level (25th percentile)$56,140$4,678—
Experienced (75th percentile)$63,330$5,278—

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in Des Moines vs. Iowa and the U.S.

Career/technical education teachers, secondary school in Des Moines earn 7% more than the Iowa average ($58,090) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($72,680). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $66,270.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Des Moines$61,990$60,980$43,640$82,730120
Iowa$58,090$57,660$43,650$75,930640
United States$72,680$66,270$50,040$101,340111,420

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary after taxes in Des Moines

On the average salary of $61,990, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $50,245 a year, or $4,187 a month and $1,933 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Iowa paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Des Moines a good place for career/technical education teachers, secondary school? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Des Moines area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.7), so the average $61,990 buys what about $67,600 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Des Moines ($51,820). A typical home costs $296,070, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $61,990 is worth in another city

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in other Iowa cities

Des Moines ranks 2nd of 3 Iowa metro areas for this job; Davenport pays the most ($70,440).

All Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salaries in Iowa

Highest-paying cities for career/technical education teachers, secondary school

San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($112,550).

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary by city

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Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in Des Moines: questions

What is the entry-level career/technical education teachers, secondary school salary in Des Moines?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,140, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the career/technical education teachers, secondary school take-home pay in Des Moines?

About $50,245 a year ($4,187 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,990. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Do career/technical education teachers, secondary school earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?

The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,680).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-2032; area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).

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