Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, biological science teachers, postsecondaries earn $75,180 at the median. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $81,985 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 26.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $75K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About biological science teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Pay for biological science teachers, postsecondary in Des Moines-West Des Moines runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $85K. Rent runs $1,318/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biological science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $76K | $85K |
| Cedar Rapids | $74K | $84K |
| Mankato | $82K | $90K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $102K | $98K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level biological science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $129K | +53% | 3,610 |
| Massachusetts | $105K | +24% | 2,060 |
| Michigan | $104K | +22% | 1,460 |
| New Hampshire | $102K | +21% | 170 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | +21% | 250 |
| Delaware | $101K | +20% | 130 |
| Oregon | $101K | +19% | 800 |
| Montana | $100K | +19% | 110 |
| Illinois | $99K | +17% | 2,340 |
| New Mexico | $99K | +17% | 150 |
| Colorado | $99K | +17% | 810 |
| New York | $98K | +16% | 3,870 |
| Washington | $97K | +15% | 960 |
| Minnesota | $97K | +14% | 780 |
| District of Columbia | $97K | +14% | 350 |
| Connecticut | $96K | +14% | 870 |
| North Dakota | $91K | +7% | 170 |
| Georgia | $88K | +4% | 980 |
| Pennsylvania | $86K | +2% | 2,410 |
| Nevada | $85K | +0% | 350 |
| Maine | $84K | -1% | 270 |
| Maryland | $84K | -1% | 970 |
| Indiana | $83K | -2% | 1,100 |
| Arizona | $83K | -2% | N/A |
| Wyoming | $83K | -2% | 160 |
| Texas | $82K | -3% | 3,840 |
| South Carolina | $82K | -3% | 750 |
| Vermont | $82K | -3% | 170 |
| Idaho | $82K | -4% | 220 |
| Utah | $82K | -4% | 300 |
| Kansas | $81K | -4% | 430 |
| Nebraska | $81K | -4% | 500 |
| Missouri | $81K | -4% | 1,060 |
| Ohio | $80K | -6% | 1,350 |
| New Jersey | $80K | -6% | 1,570 |
| Virginia | $79K | -6% | 1,760 |
| Louisiana | $79K | -7% | 390 |
| Tennessee | $79K | -7% | 830 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -7% | 950 |
| Iowa | $78K | -8% | 540 |
| North Carolina | $78K | -8% | 1,960 |
| Arkansas | $78K | -8% | 430 |
| Alabama | $78K | -8% | 1,160 |
| South Dakota | $77K | -10% | 160 |
| Kentucky | $71K | -17% | 470 |
| West Virginia | $67K | -21% | 220 |
| Mississippi | $67K | -21% | 580 |
| Oklahoma | $66K | -22% | 470 |
| Florida | $57K | -32% | 2,020 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track biological science teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a biological science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 27.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biological science teachers, postsecondaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biological science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,007/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is biological science teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $75K here vs. $85K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for biological science teachers, postsecondaries?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $85K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — below the national median.
How much do biological science teachers, postsecondaries make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $75,180 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,110, and experienced biological science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $104,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,785/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 27.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a biological science teachers, postsecondary salary go in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median biological science teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $81,985 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biological science teachers, postsecondaries get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.