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

$63,890a year

Median yearly pay for special education teachers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $30.72 an hour or $5,324 a month.

Hourly
$30.72
Vs. national median
-4%
Rank among cities
112 of 242
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $46,250Median: $63,890Highest 10%: $77,850
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$46,250$22.24
25th$49,200$23.65
Median$63,890$30.72
75th$64,590$31.05
90th$77,850$37.43

Other cities in Iowa

Median yearly pay for special education teachers.

Omaha, NE$73,870
Sioux City, IA$73,110
Cedar Rapids, IA$64,100
Iowa City, IA$62,860
Davenport, IA$62,820
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
Secondary School Teacher$62,480
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 $30.72 ($63,890 a year).

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

No: $63,890 against $66,810 nationally, 4% less.

How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?

The median in Iowa is $63,590, so Des Moines pays 0% more.

Where does Des Moines rank for special education teacher pay?

112 of 242 metro areas with data.

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

The lowest-paid 10% make $46,250 or less a year; the top 10% make $77,850 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.