How much does a computer programmer make in Des Moines?
$79,200a year
Median yearly pay for computer programmers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $38.08 an hour or $6,600 a month.
- Hourly
- $38.08
- Vs. national median
- -21%
- Rank among cities
- 165 of 207
- Jobs in the area
- 320
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $53,990Median: $79,200Highest 10%: $132,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,990 | $25.96 | |
| 25th | $69,050 | $33.20 | |
| Median | $79,200 | $38.08 | |
| 75th | $100,500 | $48.32 | |
| 90th | $132,200 | $63.55 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for computer programmers.
| Iowa City, IA | $113,600 |
| Omaha, NE | $95,150 |
| Waterloo, IA | $78,250 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $76,530 |
Related jobs in Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Actuary | $130,500 |
| Software Developer | $126,500 |
| Information Security Analyst | $123,700 |
| Database Architect | $120,000 |
| Database Administrator | $109,800 |
| Computer Occupation | $109,500 |
| Computer Network Architect | $108,300 |
| Data Scientist | $103,000 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $102,100 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester | $98,190 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $38.08 ($79,200 a year).
Do computer programmers make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $79,200 against $100,400 nationally, 21% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $79,180, so Des Moines pays 0% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for computer programmer pay?
165 of 207 metro areas with data.
How much does a computer programmer make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $53,990 or less a year; the top 10% make $132,200 or more.
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.