Education Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, education teachers, postsecondaries earn $50,020 at the median. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $54,547 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month — about 40.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K 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 education teachers, postsecondaries
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level education teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Education Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $86K | +19% | 3,180 |
| New York | $83K | +16% | 5,390 |
| Louisiana | $81K | +12% | 540 |
| Alaska | $80K | +11% | N/A |
| Rhode Island | $79K | +10% | 180 |
| Virginia | $79K | +10% | 1,500 |
| District of Columbia | $79K | +10% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $78K | +8% | 770 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | +7% | 2,180 |
| Vermont | $76K | +5% | 230 |
| Minnesota | $76K | +5% | 1,150 |
| Texas | $76K | +5% | 5,760 |
| Montana | $76K | +5% | 170 |
| North Dakota | $75K | +4% | 200 |
| Nebraska | $75K | +4% | 760 |
| New Jersey | $75K | +4% | 1,870 |
| Maine | $70K | -3% | 180 |
| Oregon | $70K | -3% | 750 |
| Wyoming | $68K | -5% | 90 |
| Arizona | $68K | -5% | 2,150 |
| North Carolina | $68K | -5% | 2,320 |
| Utah | $68K | -6% | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $67K | -8% | 230 |
| Washington | $66K | -8% | 1,120 |
| Alabama | $66K | -9% | 920 |
| West Virginia | $66K | -9% | 360 |
| Michigan | $65K | -9% | 1,200 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -10% | 320 |
| Maryland | $65K | -10% | 1,010 |
| South Carolina | $65K | -10% | 770 |
| Nevada | $65K | -10% | 440 |
| Tennessee | $64K | -11% | 910 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | -11% | 2,960 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | -11% | 1,050 |
| Georgia | $64K | -11% | 1,140 |
| Indiana | $64K | -11% | 1,690 |
| Missouri | $63K | -12% | 1,300 |
| Idaho | $63K | -12% | 160 |
| Kansas | $63K | -13% | 470 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -13% | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -14% | 380 |
| South Dakota | $62K | -14% | 170 |
| Florida | $62K | -14% | 1,620 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -15% | 600 |
| Ohio | $61K | -15% | 3,020 |
| Mississippi | $61K | -15% | 550 |
| Illinois | $60K | -16% | 4,250 |
| Iowa | $55K | -24% | 820 |
| Hawaii | $50K | -31% | 260 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track education 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
How much do education teachers, postsecondaries make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $50,020 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,360, and experienced education teachers, postsecondaries can clear $85,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,317/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 39.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a education 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 education teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $54,547 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do education 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.