Medical secretary pay in Des Moines, IA at a glance
Median salary
$42,160$20.27 per hour · $3,513 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
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Medical secretary salary in Des Moines, IA after taxes
Medical secretaries pay range in Des Moines, IA, hourly and yearly
BLS May 2025 estimates for the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (IA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.57/hr | $3,046 | $36,550 | $30,811 |
| 25th percentile | $18.45/hr | $3,198 | $38,380 | $32,212 |
| MedianMedian | $20.27/hr | $3,513 | $42,160 | $35,105 |
| 75th percentile | $22.52/hr | $3,903 | $46,840 | $38,688 |
| 90th percentile | $23.62/hr | $4,095 | $49,140 | $40,448 |
Is $42,160 a good salary in Des Moines, IA?
It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for medical secretaries next to both.
Medical secretaries pay in Iowa and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Medical secretary pay in Des Moines, IA: common questions
What is the median salary for medical secretaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The BLS median annual wage for medical secretaries in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area was $42,160 in May 2025, about $3,513 a month or $20.27 an hour. Statewide, the Iowa median for this job is $40,980, so the metro pays 3% above the state.
What is the hourly pay for medical secretaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median hourly wage for medical secretaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA was $20.27 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.57 an hour and one in ten earned more than $23.62.
How many medical secretaries work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
BLS estimated 2,350 jobs for medical secretaries in the metro in May 2025, or 5.8 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.94 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for medical secretaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
BLS wage estimates for medical secretaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA run from $36,550 at the 10th percentile to $38,380 at the 25th, $46,840 at the 75th, and $49,140 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do medical secretaries take home after taxes in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
On a median gross salary of $42,160, an estimated $35,105 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,350 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,055 (an effective rate of 16.7%).
How much do medical secretaries make per month in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
On the median annual salary of $42,160, gross monthly income is $3,513. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,925 per month (or $1,350 every two weeks).
Is $42,160 a good salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
At $42,160, the median salary for medical secretaries is 49.1% of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median household income ($85,890). It is 19% below the $51,820 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 91.7, so prices here run 8.3% below the U.S. average.