SOC 11-9033 · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro

Education Administrators, Postsecondary Salary in Des Moines, IA

The average salary for education administrators, postsecondary in Des Moines, Iowa is $105,840 a year ($50.89 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $83,180: half of the 370 people in this job in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 20% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($131,563).

$105,840average per year

$50.89 / hourMedian $83,180Take-home ≈ $79,878

  • $60K10th
  • $64K25th
  • $83KMedian
  • $128K75th
  • $169K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

370people in this job
-20%vs U.S. metro average
#2 of 6Iowa metros
92cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay range in Des Moines

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $169,180 or more. The middle half of education administrators, postsecondary in Des Moines earn between $63,950 and $127,840.

  • $60K10th
  • $64K25th
  • $83KMedian
  • $128K75th
  • $169K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$105,840$8,820$50.88
Median$83,180$6,932$39.99
Entry level (25th percentile)$63,950$5,329$30.75
Experienced (75th percentile)$127,840$10,653$61.46

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.

Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary after taxes in Des Moines

On the average salary of $105,840, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $79,878 a year, or $6,657 a month and $3,072 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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.

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Is Des Moines a good place for education administrators, postsecondary? 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 $105,840 buys what about $115,419 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Des Moines ($51,820). A typical home costs $296,070, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $105,840 is worth in another city

Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in other Iowa cities

Des Moines ranks 2nd of 6 Iowa metro areas for this job; Iowa City pays the most ($140,090).

All Education Administrators, Postsecondary salaries in Iowa

Highest-paying cities for education administrators, postsecondary

Augusta, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($257,050).

Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary by city

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Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in Des Moines: questions

How much do education administrators, postsecondary make an hour in Des Moines?

$50.89 an hour on average, and $39.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level education administrators, postsecondary salary in Des Moines?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,950, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the education administrators, postsecondary take-home pay in Des Moines?

About $79,878 a year ($6,657 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,840. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Do education administrators, postsecondary earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?

The average here is 20% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($131,563).

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 11-9033; area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
  • 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 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.