File Clerk salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
File Clerks in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $49,810 a year ($23.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,700 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $43,600. Pay here is 7% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $46,560. There are 0.19 file clerks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $49,270, close to the median.
Pay range for file clerks in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,920 | $14.39 |
| 25th percentile | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| Median | $49,810 | $23.95 |
| 75th percentile | $57,710 | $27.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,700 | $31.59 |
| Average (mean) | $49,270 | $23.69 |
Half of file clerks 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 | $4,150.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,075.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,915.77 |
| Weekly | $957.88 |
| Hourly | $23.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,810 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
File Clerk salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $49,460 | 90 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $48,490 | 50 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $42,160 | 300 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $41,360 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for file clerks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $50,660 |
| Hawaii | $50,630 |
| Illinois | $49,920 |
| Alaska | $49,910 |
| California | $49,040 |
| Massachusetts | $48,310 |
| Vermont | $47,540 |
| Minnesota | $46,640 |
| Iowa | $46,560 |
| Colorado | $46,490 |
See File Clerk pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representative | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $37,910 | $18.23 |
| Loan Interviewers and Clerks | $52,970 | $25.47 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $34,180 | $16.43 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan | $39,810 | $19.14 |
| Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,800 | $24.43 |
| Library Assistants, Clerical | $30,750 | $14.79 |
| Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | $57,300 | $27.55 |
| New Accounts Clerk | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Information and Record Clerks, All Other | $50,390 | $24.23 |
| Order Clerk | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks | $57,440 | $27.62 |
| Brokerage Clerk | $57,560 | $27.67 |
More: Office and Administrative Support 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 43-4071. 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 file clerk make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for file clerks in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $49,810 a year, or $23.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid file clerks make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of file clerks in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $65,700 a year. The top 25% earn $57,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for file clerks in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,920 a year, and a quarter of file clerks earn $37,080 or less.
How many file clerks work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 80 file clerks are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.