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How much does a special education teacher make in Des Moines?

$59,780a year

Median yearly pay for special education teachers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $28.74 an hour or $4,982 a month.

Hourly
$28.74
Vs. national median
-8%
Rank among cities
239 of 335
Jobs in the area
490
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $50,110Median: $59,780Highest 10%: $79,500
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$50,110$24.09
25th$50,590$24.32
Median$59,780$28.74
75th$74,760$35.94
90th$79,500$38.22

Other cities in Iowa

Median yearly pay for special education teachers.

Ames, IA$63,480
Omaha, NE$62,970
Iowa City, IA$61,440
Davenport, IA$61,240
Sioux City, IA$60,570
Dubuque, IA$60,470
Cedar Rapids, IA$60,160
Waterloo, IA$59,500
Special Education Teacher salary in Iowa Special Education Teacher salary in all states

Related jobs in Des Moines

Same field, median yearly pay.

Health Specialties Teacher$102,200
Business Teacher$82,730
Nursing Instructor and Teacher$80,180
English Language and Literature Teacher$76,960
Instructional Coordinator$76,600
Librarian and Media Collections Specialist$75,960
Art$75,490
Biological Science Teacher$75,180
Mathematical Science Teacher$74,030
Special Education Teacher$63,890
Salaries for every job in Des Moines, IA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a special education teacher make an hour in Des Moines?

The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $28.74 ($59,780 a year).

Do special education teachers make more in Des Moines than the national average?

No: $59,780 against $65,120 nationally, 8% less.

How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?

The median in Iowa is $60,440, so Des Moines pays 1% less.

Where does Des Moines rank for special education teacher pay?

239 of 335 metro areas with data.

How much does a special education teacher make starting out in Des Moines?

The lowest-paid 10% make $50,110 or less a year; the top 10% make $79,500 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.