Human Resources Managers Salary
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, human resources managers earn $138,140 at the median, or about $66.42 an hour. The range runs from $91K at the entry level to $234K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $150,643 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 15.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $138K 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 human resources managers
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Human resources managers pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines tracks closely to the national median, $138K locally vs. $149K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,318/month, 16.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 human resources managers in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $143K | $160K |
| Iowa City | $118K | $129K |
| Cedar Rapids | $130K | $147K |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $126K | $145K |
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 human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $91K. Mid-career wages sit at $138K. Top earners bring in $234K or more, a $142K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Human Resources Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184K | +23% | 2,250 |
| Massachusetts | $182K | +22% | 7,540 |
| New York | $177K | +18% | 17,920 |
| New Jersey | $172K | +16% | 6,400 |
| California | $170K | +14% | 27,450 |
| Rhode Island | $167K | +12% | 530 |
| Colorado | $166K | +11% | 3,620 |
| Virginia | $166K | +11% | 5,770 |
| Connecticut | $166K | +11% | 3,020 |
| Washington | $166K | +11% | 4,560 |
| Delaware | $154K | +3% | 580 |
| Minnesota | $154K | +3% | 4,370 |
| Maryland | $153K | +2% | 3,820 |
| Illinois | $151K | +1% | 13,520 |
| Georgia | $151K | +1% | 7,270 |
| North Carolina | $143K | -4% | 6,480 |
| Oregon | $141K | -6% | 2,810 |
| Arizona | $140K | -6% | 3,950 |
| North Dakota | $139K | -7% | 290 |
| Michigan | $139K | -7% | 5,890 |
| Florida | $138K | -8% | 11,570 |
| Texas | $137K | -9% | 23,220 |
| New Hampshire | $135K | -10% | 1,150 |
| Kansas | $134K | -10% | 1,290 |
| Wisconsin | $133K | -11% | 3,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $133K | -11% | 8,230 |
| Vermont | $132K | -12% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $132K | -12% | 4,310 |
| Utah | $131K | -12% | 2,240 |
| Missouri | $131K | -12% | 3,510 |
| Ohio | $130K | -13% | 8,040 |
| Indiana | $130K | -13% | 3,030 |
| Maine | $130K | -13% | 700 |
| Alaska | $130K | -13% | 610 |
| Nebraska | $129K | -13% | 1,660 |
| Hawaii | $129K | -14% | 710 |
| Nevada | $129K | -14% | 1,520 |
| Wyoming | $128K | -15% | 140 |
| Iowa | $126K | -15% | 1,620 |
| South Carolina | $124K | -17% | 2,400 |
| Kentucky | $121K | -19% | 1,960 |
| West Virginia | $120K | -20% | 510 |
| Idaho | $120K | -20% | 1,040 |
| New Mexico | $118K | -21% | 820 |
| South Dakota | $118K | -21% | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $116K | -22% | 1,750 |
| Montana | $115K | -23% | 530 |
| Alabama | $113K | -24% | 2,160 |
| Arkansas | $109K | -27% | 1,290 |
| Louisiana | $108K | -28% | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $106K | -29% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track human resources managers salary changes
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Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $138K, rent takes 16.2% 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 human resources managers in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $91K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,487/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $138K locally vs. $149K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for human resources managers?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $138K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $151K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $138,140 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $91,450, and experienced human resources managers can clear $233,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $138K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,144/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 16.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources managers 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 human resources managers salary is worth about $150,643 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources managers 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.