Home Health Aide.
Des Moines.
$30,000
median salary, 14% below the national average
$26,000 to $33,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Home Health Aide offer in Des Moines, IA, here is the reality: $26,000 to $33,000, with $30,000 as the midpoint. 14% below the national average. State minimum wage laws and Medicaid reimbursement rates are the primary salary drivers. Do not accept the first number. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Home Health Aide in Des Moines, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $36,350 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides (SOC 31-1120) in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area, based on 6,210 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$30,800
25th percentile
$35,050
Median
$36,350
75th percentile
$37,790
90th percentile
$44,520
Workers surveyed
6,210
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Home Health and Personal Care Aides (SOC 31-1120) rather than Home Health Aide specifically. The Des Moines range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 31-1120Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $27,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$20,000
to $24,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$26,000
to $32,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$33,000
to $39,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$38,000
to $47,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $7,000 to the total package.
Base
$30,000
Equity
$4,000
Bonus
$2,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $37,000
How Des Moines compares.
Des Moines, IA
$30,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$35,000
Des Moines is $5,000 below
Home Health Aide salary by city.
Salary by role in Des Moines.
What you should know.
The Home Health Aide landscape in Des Moines is not what most salary sites will tell you. Des Moines is a major insurance and financial services hub, home to Principal Financial, EMC Insurance, and a growing fintech community. The metro's extremely low cost of living and strong job market make it one of the best value cities for finance professionals. Tech employment is growing as insurtech companies expand. State minimum wage laws and Medicaid reimbursement rates are the primary salary drivers. Aides with specialized training in dementia care or wound care earn higher rates. Urban areas with higher cost of living pay more, and agencies offering benefits packages tend to attract experienced aides at premium hourly rates.
New home health aides start at $27,000 to $30,000 with basic certification. Experienced aides with specialty skills earn $33,000 to $38,000 after three to five years. Senior aides who advance to CNA or LPN roles can reach $42,000 to $55,000 with additional licensure. In Des Moines, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 14% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Benefits vary widely by employer, with agency-employed aides more likely to receive health insurance, paid time off, and mileage reimbursement. Some states mandate paid sick leave and overtime protections that effectively increase total compensation. And on the tax side: iowa has a flat 3.8% state income tax. Des Moines has no city income tax. The low tax rate and affordable housing create strong purchasing power. When someone quotes you $30,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Benchmark against national insurance industry pay scales. Des Moines insurance employers must compete with remote offers from larger metros and will often match. The range for Home Health Aides in Des Moines runs from $26,000 to $33,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Pharmacy Technician in Des Moines earns $37,000 (23% more)
- The highest-paying role in Des Moines is CTO at $263,000
Common questions.
Home Health Aide salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Des Moines.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Home Health Aide Salary in Des Moines, IA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/home-health-aide/des-moines
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