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Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a retail salesperson make in Des Moines, IA?

In the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area, retail salespersons earned a median of $33,430 a year ($16.07 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 11,000 of these jobs there. That is 35% below the $51,820 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $27,630 and $46,780; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Iowa tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $28,422 in take-home pay.

Retail salesperson pay in Des Moines, IA at a glance

Median salary

$33,430$16.07 per hour · $2,786 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$27,630$13.28/hr
25th percentile$29,450$14.16/hr
75th percentile$36,710$17.65/hr
90th percentile$46,780$22.49/hr
Jobs in this metro11,000Location quotient 1.09 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here35% belowAll-jobs median $51,820
Against Iowa7% aboveStatewide median $31,360
Against the U.S.6% belowNational median $35,410

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $33,000 a year leaves after tax in IowaFederal tax, FICA and Iowa withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$16 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $33,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $33,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Iowa publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Iowa.

Retail salesperson salary in Des Moines, IA after taxes

$33,430
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$33,430
Net 85%
Fed 5%
IA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,422After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,369Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,093Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,832 / yr
Iowa state income tax$619 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,557 / yr
Customize deductions in full Iowa calculator

Retail salespersons 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.

What retail salespersons earned in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (IA)
10th percentile$13.28/hr$2,303$27,630$23,965
25th percentile$14.16/hr$2,454$29,450$25,376
MedianMedian$16.07/hr$2,786$33,430$28,422
75th percentile$17.65/hr$3,059$36,710$30,933
90th percentile$22.49/hr$3,898$46,780$38,642

Is $33,430 a good salary in Des Moines, IA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for retail salespersons next to both.

Median household income$85,890Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)91.78.3% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household38.9%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Retail salespersons pay in other Iowa metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Des Moines, IA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Retail salesperson pay in Des Moines, IA: common questions

What is the median salary for retail salespersons in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

The BLS median annual wage for retail salespersons in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area was $33,430 in May 2025, about $2,786 a month or $16.07 an hour. Statewide, the Iowa median for this job is $31,360, so the metro pays 7% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for retail salespersons in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

The median hourly wage for retail salespersons in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA was $16.07 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.28 an hour and one in ten earned more than $22.49.

How many retail salespersons work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

BLS estimated 11,000 jobs for retail salespersons in the metro in May 2025, or 27.2 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.09 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for retail salespersons in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

BLS wage estimates for retail salespersons in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA run from $27,630 at the 10th percentile to $29,450 at the 25th, $36,710 at the 75th, and $46,780 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do retail salespersons take home after taxes in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

On a median gross salary of $33,430, an estimated $28,422 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,093 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,008 (an effective rate of 15%).

How much do retail salespersons make per month in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

On the median annual salary of $33,430, gross monthly income is $2,786. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,369 per month (or $1,093 every two weeks).

Is $33,430 a good salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

At $33,430, the median salary for retail salespersons is 38.9% of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median household income ($85,890). It is 35% 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.