Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a psychology teachers, postsecondary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $63,920/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $69,706 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $64K 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 psychology teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Pay for psychology teachers, postsecondary in Des Moines-West Des Moines runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $80K. Rent runs $1,318/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.5% 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 psychology teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $68K | $76K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $64K | $72K |
| Mankato | $79K | $87K |
| Green Bay | $69K | $74K |
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 psychology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $107K | +34% | 4,410 |
| Delaware | $102K | +27% | N/A |
| Maryland | $101K | +26% | 640 |
| District of Columbia | $101K | +26% | 340 |
| New York | $101K | +25% | 4,070 |
| Michigan | $100K | +24% | 920 |
| North Dakota | $97K | +21% | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $95K | +18% | 110 |
| Rhode Island | $94K | +17% | 180 |
| Utah | $93K | +16% | 200 |
| Louisiana | $91K | +14% | 140 |
| Connecticut | $85K | +5% | 920 |
| New Mexico | $84K | +4% | 100 |
| Idaho | $83K | +3% | 180 |
| Massachusetts | $83K | +3% | 2,640 |
| Minnesota | $83K | +3% | 760 |
| Maine | $82K | +2% | 110 |
| Nevada | $81K | +1% | 140 |
| Vermont | $81K | +1% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $81K | +1% | 1,630 |
| Oregon | $80K | -0% | 660 |
| Kansas | $80K | -1% | 230 |
| Georgia | $79K | -1% | 820 |
| Missouri | $79K | -1% | 590 |
| Alaska | $79K | -2% | 70 |
| Arizona | $79K | -2% | 940 |
| Ohio | $79K | -2% | 1,500 |
| Iowa | $78K | -2% | 320 |
| Washington | $78K | -3% | 840 |
| Virginia | $78K | -3% | 1,050 |
| Illinois | $78K | -3% | 2,260 |
| Indiana | $78K | -3% | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $78K | -3% | 630 |
| Nebraska | $77K | -4% | 170 |
| Montana | $77K | -4% | 90 |
| Texas | $77K | -4% | 3,380 |
| Colorado | $77K | -4% | 960 |
| Tennessee | $76K | -5% | 790 |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | -5% | 2,120 |
| Alabama | $75K | -6% | 610 |
| North Carolina | $75K | -6% | 1,100 |
| South Carolina | $75K | -7% | 390 |
| Kentucky | $75K | -7% | 590 |
| West Virginia | $74K | -8% | 150 |
| Florida | $69K | -14% | 1,120 |
| Wyoming | $65K | -19% | 80 |
| South Dakota | $65K | -19% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $63K | -22% | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -23% | 410 |
| Arkansas | $61K | -24% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track psychology 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 psychology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 31.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for psychology teachers, postsecondaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,388/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is psychology teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $64K here vs. $80K 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 psychology teachers, postsecondaries?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do psychology teachers, postsecondaries make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $63,920 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,800, and experienced psychology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $91,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,178/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 31.5% 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 psychology 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 psychology teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $69,706 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do psychology 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.