CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for temporary help services in Des Moines, IA
Temporary help services in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area: 117 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 37-person team.
- Establishments
- 117CBP 2023
- Employees
- 4,383mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 15.5U.S. 11.2
- Rank
- 56th of 637areas by count
The temporary staffing agency market in Des Moines, IA
There were 117 temporary help services in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 561320, Temporary Help Services). Together they reported 4,383 mid-March employees and $204.2 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 56th of the 637 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 754,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 15.5 temporary help services per 100,000 people, 38.0% above the national rate of 11.2. Establishments average 37.5 employees, 60.7% below the U.S. average of 95.3. Payroll per employee comes to $46,598, 4.2% below the national $48,635.
| Measure | Des Moines, IA | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 117 | 325 | 38,254 |
| Mid-March employees | 4,383 | 18,941 | 3,645,678 |
| Annual payroll | $204,238,000 | $721,745,000 | $177,308,415,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 37.5 | 58.3 | 95.3 |
| Payroll per employee | $46,598 | $38,105 | $48,635 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 15.5 | 10.0 | 11.2 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Establishment size: temporary help services in Des Moines, IA
Of the temporary help services in Des Moines, IA that had employees in March 2023, 40.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 37.2%). 50.4% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 46 | 40.0% | 37.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 12 | 10.4% | 8.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 10 | 8.7% | 8.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 21 | 18.3% | 14.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 26 | 22.6% | 30.7% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a temporary staffing agency in Des Moines, IA has to catch
Staffing agencies fill shifts on short notice, so the phone is constantly in use with workers and clients. Early-morning call-outs require quick action. That holds for temporary help services in Des Moines, IA as much as anywhere.
Calls a temporary staffing agency in Des Moines, IA might handle in a typical week include:
- The agency calls workers about open shifts.
- A client calls for extra workers tomorrow.
- A worker calls about a paycheck.
After-hours calls
Call-outs and shift requests arrive early and late, so after-hours routing matters.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
What a phone system costs a temporary staffing agency in Des Moines, IA
The average temporary staffing agency in Des Moines, IA has 37.5 employees, so a 37-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 37 users would run $1,110.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $923.15 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 37 people cost $739.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $4,452. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $739.00 | $8,868.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $703.00 | $8,436.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $851.00 | $10,212.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $923.15 | $11,077.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $999.00 | $11,988.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $1,110.00 | $13,320.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Which area code to use in Des Moines, IA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 515 has the most, with 342 of 395 exchanges (87%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your workers and clients recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 515 | 342 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 641 | 52 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 712 | 1 | Central | 1947 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for temporary help services
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Des Moines, IA, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many temporary help services are there in Des Moines, IA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 117 temporary help services in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area in 2023. They employed 4,383 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 37-person temporary staffing agency?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 37 users cost $1,110.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $923.15 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $739.00.
What area code should a temporary staffing agency in Des Moines, IA use?
Area code 515 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 641 and 712. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a temporary staffing agency?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.