What is the average salary in Des Moines, IA?

$65,740a year

Average yearly pay across 508 jobs with official data in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, weighted by employment. Each job below shows its median.

Hourly: $31.61
Jobs with data: 508
Workers counted: 394,310

Highest paying jobs

Median yearly pay.

Emergency Medicine Physician	$426,300
Obstetrician and Gynecologist	$369,400
Psychiatrist	$358,000
Physician	$309,900
Chief Executive	$290,900
Pediatrician	$271,200
Family Medicine Physician	$265,200
Anesthesiologist	$239,200
Physician	$239,200
Radiologist	$239,200

Most common jobs

Median yearly pay.

Customer Service Representative	$48,880
Retail Salesperson	$33,430
Fast Food and Counter Worker	$29,140
Cashier	$29,640
General and Operations Manager	$98,780
Registered Nurse	$78,630
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver	$60,720
Stocker and Order Filler	$36,800
Laborer and Freight	$46,370
Waiter and Waitress	$20,410

Management

Administrative Services Manager$126,200
Advertising and Promotions Manager$115,900
Architectural and Engineering Manager$148,300
Chief Executive$290,900
Compensation and Benefits Manager$150,900
Computer and Information Systems Manager$164,800
Construction Manager$103,900
Education Administrator$118,000
Education Administrator$83,180
Education Administrator$104,800
Education and Childcare Administrator$49,210
Entertainment and Recreation Manager$76,800
Facilities Manager$103,900
Financial Manager$154,100
Food Service Manager$66,860
Fundraising Manager$100,900
Funeral Home Manager$90,410
General and Operations Manager$98,780
Human Resources Manager$138,100
Industrial Production Manager$107,600
Lodging Manager$60,740
Manager$139,100
Marketing Manager$135,100
Medical and Health Services Manager$101,600
Natural Sciences Manager$118,700
Personal Service Manager$82,330
Property$60,600
Public Relations Manager$126,500
Purchasing Manager$122,900
Sales Manager$136,600
Social and Community Service Manager$73,840
Training and Development Manager$120,600
Transportation$100,900

Business and financial operations

Accountant and Auditor$79,290
Budget Analyst$91,920
Business Operations Specialist$86,540
Buyer and Purchasing Agent$73,710
Claims Adjuster$73,710
Compensation$77,990
Compliance Officer$84,590
Cost Estimator$78,500
Credit Analyst$80,190
Credit Counselor$49,160
Financial and Investment Analyst$98,490
Financial Examiner$85,450
Financial Risk Specialist$108,100
Financial Specialist$80,340
Fundraiser$65,060
Human Resources Specialist$71,600
Insurance Appraiser$80,370
Insurance Underwriter$79,230
Labor Relations Specialist$81,960
Loan Officer$101,200
Logistician$77,860
Management Analyst$90,730
Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist$76,580
Meeting$60,410
Personal Financial Advisor$94,270
Project Management Specialist$101,200
Property Appraiser and Assessor$92,370
Tax Preparer$63,560
Training and Development Specialist$74,610

Computer and mathematical

Actuary$130,500
Computer Network Architect$108,300
Computer Network Support Specialist$62,050
Computer Occupation$109,500
Computer Programmer$79,200
Computer Systems Analyst$102,100
Computer User Support Specialist$59,450
Data Scientist$103,000
Database Administrator$109,800
Database Architect$120,000
Information Security Analyst$123,700
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$89,800
Operations Research Analyst$83,410
Software Developer$126,500
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester$98,190
Statistician$58,840
Web and Digital Interface Designer$75,680
Web Developer$61,960

Architecture and engineering

Architect$97,460
Architectural and Civil Drafter$64,240
Civil Engineer$97,330
Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician$72,470
Drafter$62,840
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician$76,440
Electrical and Electronics Drafter$74,470
Electrical Engineer$107,000
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician$78,150
Electronics Engineer$81,330
Engineer$100,900
Engineering Technologist and Technician$51,200
Environmental Engineer$94,800
Health and Safety Engineer$99,480
Industrial Engineer$98,270
Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician$78,700
Mechanical Drafter$75,510
Mechanical Engineer$85,490
Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician$105,200
Surveying and Mapping Technician$60,040
Surveyor$78,860

Life, physical, and social science

Agricultural Technician$65,300
Atmospheric and Space Scientist$76,850
Biochemist and Biophysicist$83,790
Biological Scientist$99,420
Chemical Technician$57,000
Chemist$87,560
Clinical and Counseling Psychologist$84,740
Conservation Scientist$76,540
Economist$96,310
Environmental Science and Protection Technician$46,950
Environmental Scientist and Specialist$81,220
Epidemiologist$83,650
Food Science Technician$48,820
Food Scientist and Technologist$76,580
Forensic Science Technician$71,160
Forest and Conservation Technician$54,940
Life$43,960
Medical Scientist$95,200
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist$92,310
Occupational Health and Safety Technician$59,080
Physicist$178,100
School Psychologist$76,320
Social Science Research Assistant$33,840
Social Scientist and Related Worker$91,920
Soil and Plant Scientist$132,300
Urban and Regional Planner$85,980

Community and social service

Child$56,280
Clergy$61,640
Community and Social Service Specialist$48,310
Community Health Worker$46,790
Counselor$73,380
Director$66,140
Educational$57,580
Health Education Specialist$75,750
Healthcare Social Worker$62,360
Marriage and Family Therapist$63,380
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$49,750
Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist$79,370
Rehabilitation Counselor$46,200
Religious Worker$47,680
Social and Human Service Assistant$45,760
Social Worker$94,930
Substance Abuse$61,320

Legal

Administrative Law Judge$127,500
Judge$147,500
Judicial Law Clerk$63,140
Lawyer$134,600
Legal Support Worker$44,470
Paralegal and Legal Assistant$60,080

Educational instruction and library

Art$75,490
Biological Science Teacher$75,180
Business Teacher$82,730
Career/Technical Education Teacher$62,420
Career/Technical Education Teacher$60,980
Communications Teacher$76,580
Computer Science Teacher$79,800
Curator$48,600
Education Teacher$48,090
Educational Instruction and Library Worker$36,560
Elementary School Teacher$61,650
English Language and Literature Teacher$76,960
Farm and Home Management Educator$43,720
Health Specialties Teacher$102,200
Instructional Coordinator$76,600
Kindergarten Teacher$59,370
Librarian and Media Collections Specialist$75,960
Library Technician$46,840
Mathematical Science Teacher$74,030
Middle School Teacher$60,980
Museum Technician and Conservator$68,960
Nursing Instructor and Teacher$80,180
Philosophy and Religion Teacher$73,760
Preschool Teacher$33,850
Psychology Teacher$63,920
Secondary School Teacher$62,480
Self-Enrichment Teacher$34,880
Special Education Teacher$59,780
Special Education Teacher$63,890
Special Education Teacher$60,310
Special Education Teacher$73,110
Substitute Teacher$37,750
Teacher and Instructor$54,080
Teaching Assistant$50,450
Teaching Assistant$34,620

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media

Art Director$90,000
Audio and Video Technician$51,030
Broadcast Announcer and Radio Disc Jockey$37,770
Broadcast Technician$47,880
Coach and Scout$46,710
Commercial and Industrial Designer$77,570
Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner$82,040
Editor$63,720
Floral Designer$37,590
Graphic Designer$56,520
Interior Designer$57,840
Interpreter and Translator$55,400
Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer$43,320
Music Director and Composer$61,740
News Analyst$54,230
Photographer$42,080
Producer and Director$62,370
Public Relations Specialist$70,660
Set and Exhibit Designer$50,640
Sound Engineering Technician$57,400
Technical Writer$69,450
Umpire$34,370
Writer and Author$63,010

Healthcare practitioners and technical

Anesthesiologist$239,200
Athletic Trainer$50,110
Audiologist$104,600
Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician$78,850
Chiropractor$74,810
Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician$50,240
Dental Hygienist$93,660
Dentist$209,300
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$87,080
Dietetic Technician$37,540
Dietitian and Nutritionist$65,820
Emergency Medical Technician$42,470
Emergency Medicine Physician$426,300
Family Medicine Physician$265,200
General Internal Medicine Physician$127,200
Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar$86,790
Health Technologist and Technician$49,960
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioner$97,520
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Worker$43,090
Hearing Aid Specialist$63,920
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse$63,670
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist$85,070
Medical Records Specialist$54,270
Nurse Anesthetist$237,700
Nurse Practitioner$132,200
Obstetrician and Gynecologist$369,400
Occupational Therapist$78,770
Ophthalmic Medical Technician$48,570
Optician$46,080
Optometrist$129,800
Paramedic$61,980
Pediatrician$271,200
Pharmacist$141,100
Pharmacy Technician$46,620
Physical Therapist$97,790
Physician$239,200
Physician$309,900
Physician Assistant$133,800
Psychiatric Technician$39,750
Psychiatrist$358,000
Radiologic Technologist and Technician$67,640
Radiologist$239,200
Recreational Therapist$62,000
Registered Nurse$78,630
Respiratory Therapist$75,650
Speech-Language Pathologist$84,080
Surgical Technologist$62,250
Veterinarian$130,900
Veterinary Technologist and Technician$47,780

Healthcare support

Dental Assistant$50,020
Healthcare Support Worker$46,310
Home Health and Personal Care Aide$36,350
Massage Therapist$76,090
Medical Assistant$46,920
Medical Equipment Preparer$45,020
Nursing Assistant$43,940
Occupational Therapy Assistant$64,250
Orderly$37,090
Pharmacy Aide$35,120
Phlebotomist$38,490
Physical Therapist Aide$29,120
Physical Therapist Assistant$61,360
Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker$37,560

Protective service

Correctional Officer and Jailer$63,230
Detective and Criminal Investigator$79,560
Firefighter$56,910
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer$90,370
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$110,200
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$117,800
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker$74,530
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$45,700
Lifeguard$26,480
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$81,810
Private Detective and Investigator$41,110
Security Guard$37,550
Transportation Security Screener$61,590

Food preparation and serving

Bartender$22,340
Chef and Head Cook$51,210
Cook$30,360
Cook$36,320
Cook$36,070
Cook$36,760
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$27,730
Dishwasher$30,450
Fast Food and Counter Worker$29,140
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker$42,650
Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker$34,290
Food Preparation Worker$33,120
Food Server$33,790
Host and Hostess$28,270
Waiter and Waitress$20,410

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance

First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Worker$47,600
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping$58,690
Janitor and Cleaner$35,000
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker$45,180
Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner$34,360
Pest Control Worker$48,200
Pesticide Handler$46,900
Tree Trimmer and Pruner$42,080

Personal care and service

Amusement and Recreation Attendant$27,860
Animal Caretaker$30,950
Animal Trainer$38,370
Childcare Worker$29,760
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$38,700
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Worker$42,040
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Worker$38,920
Hairdresser$35,640
Locker Room$23,830
Mortician$70,100
Personal Care and Service Worker$30,700
Recreation Worker$36,150
Residential Advisor$38,310
Skincare Specialist$38,730
Tour and Travel Guide$22,490
Usher$26,870

Sales and related

Advertising Sales Agent$62,510
Cashier$29,640
Counter and Rental Clerk$38,920
Demonstrator and Product Promoter$37,670
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Worker$98,590
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Worker$47,800
Insurance Sales Agent$61,140
Parts Salesperson$48,850
Retail Salesperson$33,430
Sale and Related Worker$36,160
Sales Engineer$83,450
Sales Representative$126,800
Sales Representative$67,040
Sales Representatives of Service$65,510
Security$65,670
Telemarketer$32,180
Travel Agent$47,420

Office and administrative support

Bill and Account Collector$51,730
Billing and Posting Clerk$47,990
Bookkeeping$50,610
Brokerage Clerk$57,560
Cargo and Freight Agent$44,240
Courier and Messenger$39,270
Court$57,300
Credit Authorizer$57,440
Customer Service Representative$48,880
Data Entry Keyer$42,580
Dispatcher$44,730
Eligibility Interviewer$63,650
Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$64,990
File Clerk$49,810
Financial Clerk$51,770
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Worker$71,690
Hotel$34,180
Human Resources Assistant$50,800
Information and Record Clerk$50,390
Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk$46,770
Interviewer$39,810
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$47,430
Library Assistant$30,750
Loan Interviewer and Clerk$52,970
Mail Clerk and Mail Machine Operator$35,720
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant$42,160
New Accounts Clerk$46,060
Office and Administrative Support Worker$66,710
Office Clerk$46,540
Office Machine Operator$38,550
Order Clerk$43,010
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk$58,600
Postal Service Clerk$61,710
Postal Service Mail Carrier$64,250
Postal Service Mail Sorter$60,530
Procurement Clerk$51,520
Production$60,320
Public Safety Telecommunicator$64,380
Receptionist and Information Clerk$37,910
Secretary and Administrative Assistant$47,500
Shipping$47,300
Switchboard Operator$41,100
Teller$45,450
Weigher$50,490
Word Processor and Typist$45,100

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Agricultural Equipment Operator$46,220
Agricultural Inspector$57,080
Farmworker$40,120
Farmworker and Laborer$36,360
First-Line Supervisors of Farming$50,560

Construction and extraction

Brickmason and Blockmason$75,810
Carpenter$61,360
Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$59,700
Construction and Building Inspector$73,910
Construction Laborer$49,980
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer$49,670
Earth Driller$55,920
Electrician$62,840
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator$61,830
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker$82,090
Floor Layer$63,200
Glazier$62,590
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker$52,410
Helpers--Pipelayer$47,710
Highway Maintenance Worker$60,900
Insulation Worker$70,410
Miscellaneous Construction and Related Worker$46,300
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$62,610
Painter$57,410
Plumber$75,040
Roofer$49,510
Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner$63,750
Sheet Metal Worker$66,000
Structural Iron and Steel Worker$80,080
Taper$67,050

Installation, maintenance, and repair

Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician$59,100
Automotive Body and Related Repairer$58,210
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$60,470
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,630
Coin$46,700
Computer$47,330
Control and Valve Installer and Repairer$95,380
Electric Motor$49,360
Electrical and Electronics Repairer$70,180
Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer$102,200
Farm Equipment Mechanic and Service Technician$63,750
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanic$79,230
Heating$62,640
Helpers--Installation$42,420
Home Appliance Repairer$43,440
Industrial Machinery Mechanic$63,590
Installation$49,060
Maintenance and Repair Worker$50,780
Maintenance Worker$60,000
Mechanical Door Repairer$64,260
Medical Equipment Repairer$60,540
Millwright$63,950
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic$65,810
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic$47,270
Recreational Vehicle Service Technician$46,490
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer$64,270
Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer$66,920
Tire Repairer and Changer$38,480

Production

Baker$37,680
Butcher and Meat Cutter$36,770
Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter$49,040
Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender$59,230
Coating$47,820
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$58,870
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer$67,650
Crushing$55,160
Cutting$48,510
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setter$52,920
Dental Laboratory Technician$47,550
Electrical$43,660
Extruding$52,560
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker$71,150
Food and Tobacco Roasting$49,780
Food Batchmaker$47,010
Food Processing Worker$42,960
Gas Plant Operator$95,260
Grinding$44,890
Helpers--Production Worker$52,050
Inspector$50,850
Jeweler and Precious Stone and Metal Worker$56,730
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker$34,380
Machinist$59,290
Meat$45,750
Medical Appliance Technician$49,450
Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator$47,880
Mixing and Blending Machine Setter$55,170
Molder$47,400
Molding$42,290
Multiple Machine Tool Setter$48,700
Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender$51,100
Power Plant Operator$100,700
Prepress Technician and Worker$54,000
Presser$33,510
Print Binding and Finishing Worker$38,370
Printing Press Operator$43,450
Production Worker$40,660
Separating$50,470
Sewing Machine Operator$37,270
Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$59,470
Tailor$38,910
Tire Builder$63,060
Tool and Die Maker$73,170
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$67,450
Welder$59,980
Welding$52,980
Woodworking Machine Setter$60,070

Transportation and material moving

Airline Pilot$161,000
Bus Driver$46,210
Bus Driver$58,930
Cleaners of Vehicle and Equipment$36,770
Commercial Pilot$121,500
Crane and Tower Operator$75,760
Driver/Sales Worker$46,330
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker$61,340
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver$60,720
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$49,080
Laborer and Freight$46,370
Light Truck Driver$43,200
Packer and Packager$37,540
Parking Attendant$30,080
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$56,990
Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur$34,680
Stocker and Order Filler$36,800

Frequently asked questions

What is the average salary in Des Moines, IA?

About $65,740 a year ($31.61 an hour): the average of the 508 jobs with official data, weighted by how many people do each one.

What are the highest paying jobs in Des Moines, IA?

Emergency Medicine Physician ($426,300), Obstetrician and Gynecologist ($369,400), Psychiatrist ($358,000).

What are the most common jobs in Des Moines, IA?

Customer Service Representative (12,070 jobs), Retail Salesperson (11,000 jobs), Fast Food and Counter Worker (10,060 jobs).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.