Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay range in Des Moines
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,500 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Des Moines earn between $50,590 and $74,760.
- $50K10th
- $51K25th
- $60KMedian
- $75K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,300 | $5,192 | — |
| Median | $59,780 | $4,982 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,590 | $4,216 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,760 | $6,230 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay in Des Moines vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Des Moines earn 4% more than the Iowa average ($59,940) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($72,650). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $65,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $62,300 | $59,780 | $50,110 | $79,500 | 490 |
| Iowa | $59,940 | $60,440 | $47,490 | $77,260 | 2,560 |
| United States | $72,650 | $65,120 | $49,350 | $103,010 | 260,870 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary after taxes in Des Moines
On the average salary of $62,300, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $50,482 a year, or $4,207 a month and $1,942 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 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary 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 $62,300 buys what about $67,938 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.
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in other Iowa cities
Des Moines ranks 2nd of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Ames pays the most ($63,790).
- Ames$63,790
- Des Moines$62,300
- Davenport$62,030
- Cedar Rapids$60,980
- Iowa City$60,090
- Sioux City$59,790
- Dubuque$58,430
- Waterloo$57,940
All Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salaries in Iowa
Highest-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
El Centro, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($110,170).
- El Centro, CA$110,170
- Mount Vernon, WA$103,830
- San Jose, CA$102,260
- Oxnard, CA$101,530
- San Francisco, CA$100,660
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary by city
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School salary in Des Moines: questions
What is the entry-level special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school take-home pay in Des Moines?
About $50,482 a year ($4,207 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,300. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,650).
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 25-2052; area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.