PaycheckCalc

City paycheck calculator

Des Moines Paycheck Calculator (2026)

Last reviewed: April 20, 2026

Des Moines is Iowa's capital and largest city. While Iowa does not allow city-level income tax, the Des Moines Public Schools district levies a school district income surtax on top of state liability for residents. The surtax is computed as a percentage of state income tax owed, and the engine models it as an approximate 0.3% effective rate on income. Combined with Iowa's 3.8% flat state tax, a Des Moines (DMPS) resident pays roughly 4.1% in state plus surtax. This calculator estimates 2026 take-home pay for a Des Moines (DMPS) resident after federal tax, FICA, Iowa state tax, and the school district surtax. It supports pre-tax 401(k) and HSA deductions.

$85,000 single filer take-home comparison

Des Moines

$65,200

Iowa (no city tax)

$65,400

Texas (no income tax)

$68,600

Des Moines take-home is -$200 vs the state-only figure and -$3,500 vs the no-income-tax baseline.

Data pending verification

Iowa school district income surtax is modeled in this calculator as an approximate 0.3 percent effective rate on income for the Des Moines Public Schools district. Actual surtax is computed as a percentage of state tax owed and varies by district; the simplification produces a close estimate but not an exact match to a real DMPS resident's withholding.

Des Moines local tax breakdown

Des Moines's local tax is computed as 7.50% of IA state tax owed.

Enter your salary to begin

Type above or pick a quick salary to see your 2026 take-home pay instantly.

Des Moines paycheck FAQ

How does the Des Moines school district surtax work?
Iowa's school district income surtax is computed as a percentage of the resident's Iowa state income tax owed. The surtax rate is set by each school district that elects to levy one (most do); Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) is one of them. The engine models this as an effective ~0.3% on income for simplicity.
Does the surtax apply if I live outside Des Moines but in an Iowa school district that levies one?
Yes. The surtax follows school district boundaries, not city boundaries. Many Iowa school districts levy a surtax; the calculator's DMPS entry is a representative case. If you live in a different Iowa school district, your effective rate may be similar.
Why does Iowa have a flat state tax now?
Iowa transitioned from a progressive state tax structure to a flat rate over a multi-year reform. The 3.8% flat rate replaces the older progressive brackets, simplifying state-level math and softening rates at higher incomes.
Does Iowa have State Disability Insurance?
No. Iowa does not run a State Disability Insurance program funded by employee payroll. Workers seeking short-term disability coverage typically obtain it through their employer or a private policy.

See also

Run the full Iowa paycheck calculatorBrowse all city paycheck calculatorsBrowse paycheck calculators by statePaycheck and tax glossaryHow we calculate paycheck taxes

Reviewed

How This Page Is Reviewed

The Des Moines paycheck page is reviewed against primary federal, state, and city sources before each major tax-year update. Source links below are the references used to validate brackets, wage bases, and supported local taxes.

Reviewed by

PaycheckCalc Research Desk

Last reviewed

2026-04-20