Word Processors and Typists Salary
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, word processors and typists earn $45,100 at the median, or about $21.68 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $49,182 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month, about 42.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K 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 word processors and typists
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Word processors and typists pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $49K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,318/month, which is 43.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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 word processors and typists in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $41K | $47K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $52K | $51K |
| St. Louis | $37K | $39K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $52K | $49K |
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 word processors and typists (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Word Processors and Typists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Word Processors and Typists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $58K | +17% | 60 |
| California | $56K | +14% | 10,270 |
| Massachusetts | $54K | +9% | 350 |
| Oregon | $52K | +6% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $52K | +5% | 210 |
| Idaho | $50K | +1% | 60 |
| Tennessee | $50K | +1% | 90 |
| New Jersey | $50K | +0% | 3,560 |
| Connecticut | $49K | -0% | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $49K | -0% | 120 |
| Ohio | $49K | -1% | 310 |
| Wisconsin | $49K | -2% | 180 |
| New York | $48K | -2% | 12,340 |
| Michigan | $48K | -3% | 520 |
| Texas | $48K | -3% | 290 |
| Maryland | $47K | -4% | 210 |
| Nebraska | $47K | -4% | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $47K | -5% | 120 |
| Alabama | $47K | -5% | 70 |
| New Mexico | $46K | -6% | 60 |
| Virginia | $46K | -6% | 290 |
| Washington | $46K | -6% | 140 |
| Illinois | $45K | -8% | 490 |
| Delaware | $45K | -8% | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $44K | -11% | 40 |
| Iowa | $43K | -12% | 360 |
| Arkansas | $43K | -13% | 40 |
| South Carolina | $43K | -13% | 30 |
| Arizona | $42K | -15% | N/A |
| Nevada | $41K | -16% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $41K | -17% | 1,170 |
| Hawaii | $40K | -19% | 270 |
| Indiana | $40K | -20% | 120 |
| Missouri | $37K | -24% | 260 |
| West Virginia | $36K | -27% | 80 |
| Florida | $36K | -27% | 1,000 |
| Georgia | $31K | -36% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track word processors and typists 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
Can a word processors and typist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 43.8% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for word processors and typists in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new word processors and typists typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,296/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is word processors and typist a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $49K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for word processors and typists?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do word processors and typists make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $45,100 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,260, and experienced word processors and typists can clear $55,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,011/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 43.8% 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 word processors and typists 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 word processors and typists salary is worth about $49,182 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do word processors and typists 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.