English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries earn $76,960 at the median. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $83,926 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 26.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $77K 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 english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,318/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for english language and literature 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 | $61K | $69K |
| Cedar Rapids | $66K | $74K |
| Mankato | $76K | $83K |
| Peoria | $78K | $85K |
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 english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $130K | +66% | 5,460 |
| New Hampshire | $99K | +25% | 230 |
| Connecticut | $97K | +24% | 940 |
| Delaware | $97K | +23% | N/A |
| Oregon | $92K | +17% | 960 |
| Michigan | $90K | +15% | 1,730 |
| Vermont | $87K | +10% | 170 |
| Nevada | $86K | +9% | 280 |
| New York | $85K | +8% | 6,110 |
| Maine | $84K | +7% | 230 |
| Minnesota | $84K | +7% | 920 |
| Massachusetts | $84K | +7% | 2,900 |
| Maryland | $84K | +6% | 830 |
| Alaska | $83K | +5% | 90 |
| District of Columbia | $82K | +4% | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $81K | +3% | 840 |
| Pennsylvania | $81K | +2% | 2,530 |
| Washington | $80K | +1% | 1,000 |
| Iowa | $80K | +1% | 510 |
| Rhode Island | $79K | +1% | 540 |
| Texas | $79K | +0% | 4,310 |
| New Jersey | $79K | +0% | 1,950 |
| Nebraska | $78K | -0% | 500 |
| Illinois | $78K | -2% | 2,570 |
| Arizona | $77K | -2% | 870 |
| Utah | $73K | -7% | 420 |
| Montana | $73K | -7% | 130 |
| Missouri | $73K | -7% | 1,040 |
| Colorado | $73K | -7% | 1,220 |
| Indiana | $69K | -12% | 1,000 |
| Virginia | $67K | -15% | 1,810 |
| New Mexico | $66K | -16% | 230 |
| Georgia | $66K | -17% | 1,140 |
| Ohio | $65K | -17% | 2,240 |
| Kentucky | $65K | -17% | 540 |
| South Carolina | $64K | -18% | 840 |
| Tennessee | $64K | -18% | 1,150 |
| North Dakota | $64K | -19% | 120 |
| North Carolina | $63K | -20% | 2,140 |
| West Virginia | $63K | -20% | 250 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -20% | 110 |
| Alabama | $63K | -20% | 1,040 |
| Kansas | $62K | -21% | 460 |
| Wyoming | $62K | -21% | 140 |
| Mississippi | $61K | -23% | 530 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -23% | 430 |
| Florida | $60K | -24% | 2,480 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -28% | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $53K | -32% | 500 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track english language and literature 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 english language and literature teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 27% 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 english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,883/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 english language and literature teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $76,960 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,050, and experienced english language and literature teachers, postsecondaries can clear $102,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,881/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 27% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a english language and literature 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 english language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $83,926 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do english language and literature 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.