Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay range in Des Moines
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,420 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, secondary school in Des Moines earn between $51,190 and $73,300.
- $47K10th
- $51K25th
- $60KMedian
- $73K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,000 | $5,250 | — |
| Median | $60,310 | $5,026 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,190 | $4,266 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,300 | $6,108 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in Des Moines vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Special education teachers, secondary school in Des Moines earn about the same as the Iowa average ($63,800) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($77,260). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $74,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $63,000 | $60,310 | $46,520 | $79,420 | 580 |
| Iowa | $63,800 | $60,780 | $46,840 | $81,570 | 1,570 |
| United States | $77,260 | $74,260 | $49,800 | $109,100 | 163,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary after taxes in Des Moines
On the average salary of $63,000, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $51,018 a year, or $4,252 a month and $1,962 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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.
Is Des Moines a good place for special education teachers, secondary school? 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 $63,000 buys what about $68,702 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Des Moines ($51,820). A typical home costs $296,070, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in other Iowa cities
Des Moines ranks 6th of 7 Iowa metro areas for this job; Iowa City pays the most ($67,710).
- Iowa City$67,710
- Davenport$67,070
- Cedar Rapids$65,450
- Sioux City$64,210
- Waterloo$63,060
- Des Moines$63,000
- Dubuque$59,300
All Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salaries in Iowa
Highest-paying cities for special education teachers, secondary school
San Diego, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($121,230).
- San Diego, CA$121,230
- San Jose, CA$110,740
- San Francisco, CA$106,980
- Mount Vernon, WA$105,910
- Riverside, CA$105,440
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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in Des Moines: questions
What is the entry-level special education teachers, secondary school salary in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special education teachers, secondary school take-home pay in Des Moines?
About $51,018 a year ($4,252 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,000. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do special education teachers, secondary school earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. average for this job ($77,260).
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 25-2058; area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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