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Secondary School Teachers salary in Des Moines, IA

Secondary School Teachers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area earn a median of $62,480 a year, an average of $64,410. About 2,660 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Secondary School Teachers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$62,480
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$64,410
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$47,870
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$82,100
Top of the range
People employed
2,660
In Des Moines metro area
Rent share of median wage
20.2%
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 secondary school teachers wage
$62,480
48.1% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
20.2%
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.

Secondary School Teachers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Rochester, NY
+21.9%
Median $76,190
Mean $71,050
Employed 4,430
Fayetteville, NC
-20.6%
Median $49,580
Mean $50,910
Employed 1,030
Cape Coral, FL
-3.5%
Median $60,270
Mean $59,550
Employed 1,220
Modesto, CA
+63.1%
Median $101,890
Mean $103,950
Employed 1,900
Huntsville, AL
+2.8%
Median $64,220
Mean $67,000
Employed 1,580
Worcester, MA
+39.3%
Median $87,050
Mean $85,250
Employed 3,640
Port St. Lucie, FL
-14.2%
Median $53,600
Mean $55,690
Employed 690
Tacoma, WA
+64.3%
Median $102,670
Mean $101,680
Employed 7,720

See secondary 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 $62,480 / year
$62,480
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.

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.