Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay range in Des Moines
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,880 or more. The middle half of middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Des Moines earn between $45,750 and $64,910.
- $46K10th
- $46K25th
- $61KMedian
- $65K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,380 | $4,865 | — |
| Median | $60,980 | $5,082 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,750 | $3,812 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,910 | $5,409 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay in Des Moines vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Des Moines earn about the same as the Iowa average ($60,080) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($72,030). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $64,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $58,380 | $60,980 | $45,750 | $78,880 | 1,150 |
| Iowa | $60,080 | $60,450 | $40,920 | $79,110 | 6,270 |
| United States | $72,030 | $64,370 | $48,080 | $102,540 | 620,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary after taxes in Des Moines
On the average salary of $58,380, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $47,482 a year, or $3,957 a month and $1,826 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.
Is Des Moines a good place for middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education)? 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 $58,380 buys what about $63,663 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 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in other Iowa cities
Des Moines ranks 7th of 7 Iowa metro areas for this job; Cedar Rapids pays the most ($66,660).
- Cedar Rapids$66,660
- Davenport$66,530
- Ames$64,250
- Waterloo$64,240
- Iowa City$62,610
- Sioux City$59,210
- Des Moines$58,380
All Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries in Iowa
Highest-paying cities for middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education)
El Centro, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($117,020).
- El Centro, CA$117,020
- San Jose, CA$109,140
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,790
- Seattle, WA$103,680
- Bremerton, WA$102,020
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by city
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in Des Moines: questions
What is the entry-level middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education) salary in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education) take-home pay in Des Moines?
About $47,482 a year ($3,957 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,380. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education) earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,030).
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 25-2022; area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.