Word Processors and Typists Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, word processors and typists earn $45,410 at the median, or about $21.83 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $49,520 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month — about 42.6% 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level word processors and typists (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Word Processors and Typists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $54K | +12% | 40 |
| Oregon | $53K | +11% | 40 |
| Kansas | $52K | +9% | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $51K | +7% | 160 |
| California | $51K | +7% | 9,780 |
| Massachusetts | $51K | +7% | 330 |
| Illinois | $50K | +5% | 460 |
| New Jersey | $50K | +5% | 3,370 |
| Minnesota | $50K | +4% | 210 |
| Delaware | $49K | +2% | 40 |
| Michigan | $49K | +1% | 510 |
| Arizona | $48K | +1% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $48K | +0% | 130 |
| Alabama | $48K | -0% | 80 |
| District of Columbia | $48K | -1% | 120 |
| Connecticut | $48K | -1% | 170 |
| New York | $47K | -1% | 12,870 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | -2% | 290 |
| Ohio | $47K | -3% | 370 |
| New Mexico | $46K | -4% | 50 |
| Nebraska | $46K | -4% | 100 |
| Maryland | $45K | -6% | 230 |
| Arkansas | $44K | -9% | 30 |
| Idaho | $44K | -9% | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $43K | -10% | 1,700 |
| Hawaii | $43K | -10% | 290 |
| South Carolina | $43K | -11% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $42K | -12% | 40 |
| Washington | $42K | -13% | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $42K | -13% | 90 |
| Texas | $41K | -15% | 390 |
| Missouri | $40K | -15% | 300 |
| Louisiana | $40K | -16% | 180 |
| Kentucky | $40K | -17% | 60 |
| Nevada | $40K | -17% | 140 |
| Utah | $40K | -17% | 40 |
| Virginia | $39K | -18% | 360 |
| Iowa | $38K | -20% | 340 |
| Georgia | $37K | -22% | 450 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -24% | 80 |
| Florida | $36K | -25% | 1,270 |
| Indiana | $36K | -25% | 130 |
| Maine | $34K | -29% | N/A |
| West Virginia | $33K | -31% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states
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
How much do word processors and typists make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $45,410 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,600, and experienced word processors and typists can clear $58,970. 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 $3,030/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 43.5% 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 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 $49,520 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.