Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA make a median of $79,800 a year. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $87,023 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 25.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K 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 computer science teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Pay for computer science teachers, postsecondary in Des Moines-West Des Moines runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $97K. Rent runs $1,318/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.2% 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 computer science teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Mankato | $84K | $93K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $85K | $82K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $86K | $82K |
| St. Louis | $103K | $108K |
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 computer science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128K | +32% | 2,480 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +32% | 1,490 |
| Utah | $124K | +28% | 550 |
| Michigan | $108K | +11% | 810 |
| Oregon | $107K | +11% | 530 |
| Virginia | $107K | +10% | 1,670 |
| Nevada | $107K | +10% | 140 |
| Connecticut | $106K | +10% | 390 |
| Indiana | $103K | +6% | 1,240 |
| Delaware | $102K | +5% | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $101K | +5% | 210 |
| Rhode Island | $101K | +4% | 160 |
| Maine | $100K | +3% | 120 |
| Maryland | $99K | +2% | 830 |
| Illinois | $99K | +2% | 1,540 |
| Georgia | $98K | +1% | 1,160 |
| Wisconsin | $98K | +1% | 510 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | +1% | 1,520 |
| Texas | $97K | +1% | 3,540 |
| New York | $96K | -1% | 3,170 |
| Vermont | $95K | -2% | 110 |
| Nebraska | $94K | -3% | 260 |
| Alabama | $93K | -4% | 500 |
| Ohio | $91K | -6% | 1,180 |
| Washington | $91K | -6% | 800 |
| Missouri | $91K | -6% | 510 |
| Iowa | $90K | -8% | 290 |
| Minnesota | $86K | -12% | 480 |
| Arizona | $84K | -13% | 700 |
| New Hampshire | $84K | -14% | 210 |
| Kentucky | $83K | -14% | 310 |
| Tennessee | $82K | -16% | 560 |
| Montana | $82K | -16% | 60 |
| New Jersey | $82K | -16% | 1,440 |
| North Dakota | $81K | -16% | 90 |
| Colorado | $81K | -17% | 920 |
| North Carolina | $80K | -17% | 1,650 |
| New Mexico | $79K | -18% | 200 |
| South Carolina | $78K | -19% | 380 |
| Louisiana | $78K | -20% | 200 |
| Florida | $77K | -21% | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $77K | -21% | 210 |
| South Dakota | $76K | -22% | 150 |
| Mississippi | $76K | -22% | 160 |
| West Virginia | $74K | -24% | 270 |
| Kansas | $67K | -31% | 260 |
| Wyoming | $64K | -34% | 40 |
| Arkansas | $56K | -42% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer 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 computer science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 26.2% 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 computer science teachers, postsecondaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,843/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer science teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $80K here vs. $97K 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 computer science teachers, postsecondaries?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — below the national median.
How much do computer science teachers, postsecondaries make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $79,800 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,390, and experienced computer science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $131,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,034/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 26.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer 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 computer science teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $87,023 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer 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.