Administrative Assistant salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
For this job Des Moines-West Des Moines sits right at the US figure, with a median of $47,500 a year1. That is about level with the US median of $47,540, and 5.2% above the Iowa statewide median of $45,150. Among US areas it comes in at #142 of 520. With about 3,110 administrative assistants, 24% of the Iowa total, no area in Iowa employs more.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $35,490 | $47,500 | $63,510 | |
| Iowa | $33,880 | $45,150 | $60,760 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Des Moines-West Des Moines earns $39,990–$55,810. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $63,510, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.0 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $15,820 wide, between the figure for Iowa ($13,030) and the US figure ($19,170).
What to budget for an administrative assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,490 | $2,958 | $17.06 | $45,794 |
| 25th percentile | $39,990 | $3,332 | $19.23 | $51,600 |
| Median | $47,500 | $3,958 | $22.84 | $61,290 |
| 75th percentile | $55,810 | $4,651 | $26.83 | $72,013 |
| 90th percentile | $63,510 | $5,292 | $30.53 | $81,948 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,510 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,310, or about $10,723 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $47,540 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Des Moines-West Des Moines, and the Iowa statewide median of $45,150 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $13,790 to the $47,500 median and brings it to $61,290 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for administrative assistants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Of the 17 roles we track in Des Moines-West Des Moines, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($48,880) and e-commerce order specialists ($43,010). Project Coordinator is the highest at $101,150.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +6.5% | 3,670 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +2.9% | 12,070 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 3,110 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -9.5% | 140 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -10.4% | 460 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Des Moines-West Des Moines (-0.1%), between HR assistants (+0.4%) and bookkeepers (-0.1%). The typical role here is at -1.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 6.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, 9.4% across Iowa and 10.8% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $39,810 in the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area to $48,740 in Ames, a gap of $8,930 a year. No other area in Iowa has as many administrative assistants, and 10 of the other 11 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Des Moines-West Des Moines | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | +2.6% | 620 | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | this area | 3,110 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | -2.7% | 720 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | -3.3% | 640 | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -3.8% | 1,670 | |
| Dubuque, IA | -4.4% | 440 | |
| Iowa City, IA | -4.4% | 630 |
Des Moines-West Des Moines against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Des Moines-West Des Moines is #93 of 520 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Iowa, Naples-Marco Island and Springfield pay just above Des Moines-West Des Moines and Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami-Fort Lauderdale just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Des Moines-West Des Moines. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Des Moines-West Des Moines | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | +0.7% | 3,120 | jobs | |
| Springfield, IL | +0.1% | 1,290 | pay | |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | +0.0% | 1,670 | pay | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | this area | 3,110 | ||
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | -0.1% | 37,550 | pay | |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | -0.1% | 33,380 | pay | |
| Toledo, OH | -1.5% | 3,100 | jobs | |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | -17.9% | 3,180 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About $61,290 a year at the median, or $5,108 a month: $47,500 in pay plus about $13,790 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The median was $47,500 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,490, the 90th $63,510, and the middle half earned $39,990 to $55,810.
Is Des Moines-West Des Moines cheaper than the rest of Iowa for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $47,500 against $45,150 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is Ames at $48,740, the next down Waterloo-Cedar Falls at $46,230.
How many administrative assistants work in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
BLS counts about 3,110 in the May 2025 survey. That is 24% of the Iowa total of 12,830. No other area in Iowa has as many.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes: $4,490 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,500 and $43,010.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6014: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.