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Elementary School Teachers salary in Des Moines, IA

Elementary School Teachers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area earn a median of $61,650 a year, an average of $59,400. About 3,640 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Elementary School Teachers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$61,650
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$59,400
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$46,090
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$79,610
Top of the range
People employed
3,640
In Des Moines metro area
Rent share of median wage
20.5%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Des Moines

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,054
per month, in Des Moines, IA
Income needed for median rent
$42,200
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median elementary school teachers wage
$61,650
46.1% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
20.5%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$63,966
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Des Moines area. Read the Des Moines, IA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Elementary School Teachers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Rochester, NY
+1.9%
Median $62,840
Mean $67,220
Employed 5,100
Fayetteville, NC
-11.8%
Median $54,350
Mean $52,450
Employed 1,490
Cape Coral, FL
-1.9%
Median $60,470
Mean $58,960
Employed 2,230
Modesto, CA
+64.9%
Median $101,640
Mean $99,430
Employed 2,450
Huntsville, AL
+1.0%
Median $62,250
Mean $61,750
Employed 1,990
Worcester, MA
+34.3%
Median $82,810
Mean $83,680
Employed 3,850
Port St. Lucie, FL
-13.0%
Median $53,610
Mean $54,840
Employed 1,730
Tacoma, WA
+66.9%
Median $102,920
Mean $102,290
Employed 14,560

See elementary school teachers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $61,650 / year
$61,650
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Iowa (IA)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Elementary School Teachers salary in Des Moines, IA: FAQ

How much do elementary school teachers make in Des Moines, IA?

The median salary for elementary school teachers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $61,650 a year (about $30 an hour for full-time work). The average is $59,400, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $61,650 a good salary for elementary school teachers in Des Moines, IA?

Yes. It is above the $42,200 needed to keep the median rent of $1,054 a month at 30% of gross income, and the median rent takes 20.5% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid elementary school teachers earn in Des Moines, IA?

The top 10% earn more than $79,610 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $46,090.

How many elementary school teachers work in Des Moines, IA?

About 3,640 people work in this occupation in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.