Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
The median pay for a preschool teachers, except special education in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $30,230/year ($14.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $32,966 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month — about 63.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $30K 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.
About preschool teachers, except special educations
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level preschool teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $50K | +35% | 1,070 |
| New Jersey | $47K | +25% | 17,990 |
| California | $46K | +24% | 49,260 |
| New York | $46K | +23% | 25,180 |
| District of Columbia | $45K | +21% | 2,770 |
| Massachusetts | $45K | +21% | 15,380 |
| Hawaii | $45K | +21% | 1,370 |
| Vermont | $45K | +21% | 1,480 |
| North Dakota | $44K | +19% | 570 |
| Washington | $43K | +17% | 13,020 |
| Kansas | $43K | +16% | 1,570 |
| Connecticut | $43K | +16% | 6,190 |
| Georgia | $42K | +14% | 11,230 |
| Oregon | $39K | +6% | 6,740 |
| Minnesota | $39K | +4% | 10,830 |
| Maryland | $39K | +4% | 7,960 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | +2% | 5,230 |
| New Mexico | $38K | +2% | 2,460 |
| Alaska | $38K | +2% | 560 |
| New Hampshire | $38K | +1% | 2,340 |
| Virginia | $37K | +1% | 12,030 |
| Illinois | $37K | +0% | 20,290 |
| Maine | $37K | -0% | 1,430 |
| Michigan | $37K | -1% | 10,790 |
| Louisiana | $36K | -2% | 2,730 |
| Rhode Island | $36K | -3% | 1,470 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -3% | 4,890 |
| Nevada | $36K | -3% | 2,570 |
| Montana | $36K | -4% | 1,100 |
| Indiana | $35K | -5% | 6,830 |
| Arizona | $35K | -5% | 9,500 |
| Missouri | $35K | -5% | 5,980 |
| Wisconsin | $35K | -6% | 11,790 |
| Florida | $34K | -8% | 34,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $34K | -8% | 23,190 |
| Utah | $34K | -8% | 4,230 |
| Texas | $34K | -9% | 31,480 |
| South Dakota | $33K | -10% | 1,340 |
| South Carolina | $33K | -10% | 3,270 |
| Ohio | $33K | -12% | 18,840 |
| Delaware | $31K | -15% | 2,090 |
| North Carolina | $31K | -17% | 16,820 |
| Arkansas | $30K | -19% | 2,560 |
| Kentucky | $30K | -19% | 6,780 |
| Iowa | $30K | -20% | 5,570 |
| West Virginia | $30K | -20% | 2,380 |
| Wyoming | $29K | -21% | 740 |
| Idaho | $28K | -24% | 560 |
| Alabama | $28K | -26% | 6,610 |
| Mississippi | $27K | -28% | 3,130 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track preschool teachers, except special education salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do preschool teachers, except special educations make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $30,230 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,170, and experienced preschool teachers, except special educations can clear $45,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,084/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 63.2% 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 preschool teachers, except special education 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 preschool teachers, except special education salary is worth about $32,966 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do preschool teachers, except special educations 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.