Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Education Administrators, Postsecondary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $83,180 a year ($39.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,180 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $104,590. Pay here is 7% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $89,320. There are 0.92 education administrators, postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $105,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for education administrators, postsecondary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,120 | $28.91 |
| 25th percentile | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| Median | $83,180 | $39.99 |
| 75th percentile | $127,840 | $61.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,180 | $81.34 |
| Average (mean) | $105,840 | $50.89 |
Half of education administrators, postsecondary earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,931.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,465.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,199.23 |
| Weekly | $1,599.62 |
| Hourly | $39.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $83,180 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $108,400 | 220 |
| Iowa City, IA | $101,330 | 320 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $97,620 | 640 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $85,060 | 190 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $82,250 | 230 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $81,830 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for education administrators, postsecondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $139,640 |
| New Jersey | $131,570 |
| Massachusetts | $128,970 |
| Delaware | $128,570 |
| Wyoming | $127,960 |
| Washington | $127,630 |
| South Dakota | $126,160 |
| California | $125,460 |
| Wisconsin | $124,960 |
| Connecticut | $123,190 |
See Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $139,110 | $66.88 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $101,550 | $48.82 |
| Construction Manager | $103,920 | $49.96 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $117,980 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $73,840 | $35.50 |
| Food Service Manager | $66,860 | $32.15 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,330 | $71.31 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $49,210 | $23.66 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $76,800 | $36.92 |
| Lodging Manager | $60,740 | $29.20 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $104,810 | $50.39 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| Funeral Home Manager | $90,410 | $43.47 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-9033. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a education administrators, postsecondary make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for education administrators, postsecondary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $83,180 a year, or $39.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid education administrators, postsecondary make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of education administrators, postsecondary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $169,180 a year. The top 25% earn $127,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for education administrators, postsecondary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,120 a year, and a quarter of education administrators, postsecondary earn $63,950 or less.
How many education administrators, postsecondary work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 370 education administrators, postsecondary are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.