SOC 25-1072 · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Des Moines, IA

The average salary for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary in Des Moines, Iowa is $74,480 a year, according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $80,180: half of the 120 people in this job in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($86,410).

$74,480average per year

Median $80,180Take-home ≈ $59,008

  • $48K10th
  • $62K25th
  • $80KMedian
  • $80K75th
  • $80K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

120people in this job
-14%vs U.S. average
#2 of 5Iowa metros
92cost of living (U.S. = 100)
Advertisement

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary pay range in Des Moines

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,480 or more. The middle half of nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary in Des Moines earn between $61,710 and $80,400.

  • $48K10th
  • $62K25th
  • $80KMedian
  • $80K75th
  • $80K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$74,480$6,207—
Median$80,180$6,682—
Entry level (25th percentile)$61,710$5,142—
Experienced (75th percentile)$80,400$6,700—

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary pay in Des Moines vs. Iowa and the U.S.

Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary in Des Moines earn 5% less than the Iowa average ($78,050) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($86,410). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $80,250.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Des Moines$74,480$80,180$47,600$80,480120
Iowa$78,050$77,360$49,450$104,820770
United States$86,410$80,250$48,800$129,50077,960

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary salary after taxes in Des Moines

On the average salary of $74,480, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $59,008 a year, or $4,917 a month and $2,270 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Iowa paycheck calculator: try your own salary

Advertisement

Is Des Moines a good place for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Des Moines area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.7), so the average $74,480 buys what about $81,220 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Des Moines ($51,820). A typical home costs $296,070, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $74,480 is worth in another city

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary salary in other Iowa cities

Des Moines ranks 2nd of 5 Iowa metro areas for this job; Sioux City pays the most ($75,340).

All Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary salaries in Iowa

Highest-paying cities for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

Waco, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($163,530).

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary salary by city

Advertisement

Does this match what you are paid?

Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.

Share your pay anonymously

Reviewed before it counts. Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary in Des Moines, IA.

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary salary in Des Moines: questions

What is the entry-level nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary salary in Des Moines?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,710, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary take-home pay in Des Moines?

About $59,008 a year ($4,917 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,480. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Do nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?

The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($86,410).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-1072; area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.