The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Des Moines, IA (2026)
The average salary in the Des Moines metro area is $65,970 a year and the median is $51,820: 2% above the US median and 7% above Iowa's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $56,510, 44th of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $65,970US $69,770
- Median salary
- $51,820US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $24.91BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 91.7US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Des Moines earn
| Percentile | Des Moines area | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,900 | $28,930 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $37,550 | $36,570 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $51,820 | $48,540 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $78,320 | $70,290 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $113,430 | $99,630 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $65,970 | $59,830 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Des Moines
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Des Moines area at 91.7 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $91,700 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items91.7
- Housing (rents)84.7
- Goods93.7
- Utilities84.6
- Other services92.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 91.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 84.7 |
| Goods | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 84.6 |
| Other services | 92.9 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Des Moines
Mean annual wage in the Des Moines area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Des Moines area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $81,720 | $101,420 | -19% |
| Software Developer | $122,990 | $148,100 | -17% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $59,400 | $72,650 | -18% |
| Accountant | $87,260 | $94,750 | -8% |
| Electrician | $65,060 | $71,490 | -9% |
| Truck Driver | $63,480 | $59,710 | +6% |
| Customer Service Representative | $51,190 | $46,590 | +10% |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,610 | $37,310 | -5% |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,640 | $42,700 | 0% |
| General and Operations Manager | $117,440 | $134,940 | -13% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $54,500 | $53,780 | +1% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $36,980 | $38,730 | -5% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Des Moines
BLS publishes estimates for 492 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Pediatrician, General$213,930
- 2Dentist$204,670
- 3Physicist$171,100
- 4IT Manager$166,630
- 5Financial Manager$166,190
- 6General Internal Medicine Physician$165,690
- 7Lawyer$159,220
- 8Compensation and Benefits Manager$157,480
- 9Airline Pilot$155,290
- 10Architectural and Engineering Manager$154,690
Jobs Des Moines pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Helpers--Production Worker$48,440 · +18%
- 2Public Safety Telecommunicator$66,660 · +17%
- 3Highway Maintenance Worker$62,190 · +17%
- 4Loan Officer$101,800 · +16%
- 5Parts Salesperson$49,920 · +14%
- 6Eligibility Interviewer, Government Programs$63,540 · +13%
- 7Driver/Sales Worker$45,410 · +11%
- 8Bill and Account Collector$54,450 · +11%
- 9Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender$49,050 · +10%
- 10Customer Service Representative$51,190 · +10%
Compare
Other metro areas in Iowa
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Des Moines: FAQ
What is the average salary in Des Moines?
Across all occupations in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $65,970 and the median is $51,820, 2% above the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 404,130 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Des Moines?
Above $51,820 out-earns half of workers in the Des Moines area; the top 25% start at $78,320 and the top 10% at $113,430. Prices run 8% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $91,700 here.
Is Des Moines expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Des Moines metro is 91.7 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 84.7, goods 93.7, utilities 84.6. At local prices the median wage is worth $56,510, 44th of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Des Moines?
By mean annual wage: Pediatrician, General ($213,930), Dentist ($204,670), Physicist ($171,100), IT Manager ($166,630), Financial Manager ($166,190) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).