Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
64 Highest Paying Jobs in Des Moines, IA (2026)
The highest-paying job in Des Moines, IA, Iowa is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a median salary of $369,390 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 64 tracked occupations the average median is $106,494, with 27 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Des Moines, IA has a cost-of-living index of 93.3 (national average = 100), so a $106,494 nominal salary equals $114,141 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 64 occupations below are ranked by median wage in Des Moines, IA, IA, from BLS OEWS data. Des Moines, IA's cost-of-living index runs 93.3 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within Des Moines, IA, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Des Moines, IA
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to Des Moines, IA's cost-of-living index of 93.3 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $369,390 · 10th–90th $208,740–$438,830 · 40 jobs in metro
Obstetrician/Gynecologists in Des Moines, IA earn $369,390 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $438,830. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $395,916 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $271,190 · 10th–90th $71,170–$325,380 · 90 jobs in metro
Pediatricians in Des Moines, IA earn $271,190 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $325,380. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $290,665 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $265,200 · 10th–90th $190,600–$520,860 · 250 jobs in metro
Family Medicine Physicians in Des Moines, IA earn $265,200 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $520,860. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $284,244 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $209,300 · 10th–90th $137,870–$259,990 · 360 jobs in metro
Dentists in Des Moines, IA earn $209,300 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $259,990. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $224,330 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $164,840 · 10th–90th $111,990–$215,440 · 2,050 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Des Moines, IA earn $164,840 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $215,440. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $176,677 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $154,140 · 10th–90th $94,230–$263,790 · 3,800 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in Des Moines, IA earn $154,140 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $263,790. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $165,209 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $141,110 · 10th–90th $123,510–$164,900 · 850 jobs in metro
Pharmacists in Des Moines, IA earn $141,110 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $164,900. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $151,243 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $138,140 · 10th–90th $91,450–$233,690 · 520 jobs in metro
Human Resources Managers in Des Moines, IA earn $138,140 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $233,690. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $148,060 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $136,570 · 10th–90th $75,420–$223,300 · 1,200 jobs in metro
Sales Managers in Des Moines, IA earn $136,570 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $223,300. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $146,377 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $135,140 · 10th–90th $81,220–$214,220 · 950 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in Des Moines, IA earn $135,140 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $214,220. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $144,845 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Full Ranking (64 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $369,390 | $208,740–$438,830 | $395,916 | 40 |
| 2 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $271,190 | $71,170–$325,380 | $290,665 | 90 |
| 3 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $265,200 | $190,600–$520,860 | $284,244 | 250 |
| 4 | Dentist | Healthcare | $209,300 | $137,870–$259,990 | $224,330 | 360 |
| 5 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $164,840 | $111,990–$215,440 | $176,677 | 2,050 |
| 6 | Financial Manager | Finance | $154,140 | $94,230–$263,790 | $165,209 | 3,800 |
| 7 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $141,110 | $123,510–$164,900 | $151,243 | 850 |
| 8 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $138,140 | $91,450–$233,690 | $148,060 | 520 |
| 9 | Sales Manager | Management | $136,570 | $75,420–$223,300 | $146,377 | 1,200 |
| 10 | Marketing Manager | Management | $135,140 | $81,220–$214,220 | $144,845 | 950 |
| 11 | Lawyer | Legal | $134,560 | $65,830–$292,020 | $144,223 | 1,760 |
| 12 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $133,830 | $99,990–$188,860 | $143,441 | 340 |
| 13 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $132,230 | $113,470–$166,960 | $141,726 | 820 |
| 14 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $130,900 | $80,190–$171,590 | $140,300 | 210 |
| 15 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $129,780 | $67,930–$178,320 | $139,100 | 110 |
| 16 | Software Developer | Technology | $126,460 | $79,170–$168,180 | $135,541 | 4,240 |
| 17 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $123,740 | $73,200–$167,610 | $132,626 | 720 |
| 18 | Database Architect | Technology | $109,750 | $61,420–$157,350 | $117,631 | 130 |
| 19 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $109,490 | $50,840–$163,770 | $117,353 | 1,770 |
| 20 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $108,280 | $66,870–$160,320 | $116,056 | 640 |
| 21 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $107,040 | $77,790–$153,800 | $114,727 | 280 |
| 22 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $104,580 | $81,600–$122,740 | $112,090 | 70 |
| 23 | Data Scientist | Technology | $103,030 | $65,480–$150,190 | $110,429 | 1,240 |
| 24 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $102,070 | $67,020–$140,820 | $109,400 | 2,680 |
| 25 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $101,550 | $77,210–$179,860 | $108,842 | 1,330 |
| 26 | Loan Officer | Finance | $101,190 | $55,960–$163,910 | $108,457 | 650 |
| 27 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $100,880 | $73,810–$136,410 | $108,124 | 260 |
| 28 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $98,780 | $46,950–$208,630 | $105,874 | 8,370 |
| 29 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $98,490 | $63,910–$155,480 | $105,563 | 1,160 |
| 30 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $98,270 | $74,110–$134,040 | $105,327 | 520 |
| 31 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $98,190 | $62,650–$128,790 | $105,241 | 440 |
| 32 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $97,790 | $75,510–$120,730 | $104,812 | 740 |
| 33 | Architect | Engineering | $97,460 | $61,940–$161,960 | $104,459 | 310 |
| 34 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $97,330 | $65,080–$140,780 | $104,319 | 830 |
| 35 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $94,270 | $52,840–$201,940 | $101,040 | 640 |
| 36 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $93,660 | $74,630–$96,060 | $100,386 | 750 |
| 37 | Management Analyst | Management | $90,730 | $58,660–$135,200 | $97,245 | 2,110 |
| 38 | Network Architect | Technology | $89,800 | $62,100–$131,980 | $96,249 | 1,000 |
| 39 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $85,490 | $70,770–$133,600 | $91,629 | 390 |
| 40 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $85,450 | $58,840–$155,850 | $91,586 | 460 |
| 41 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $84,080 | $64,950–$123,350 | $90,118 | 380 |
| 42 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $83,410 | $39,800–$140,960 | $89,400 | 190 |
| 43 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $82,730 | $38,310–$122,770 | $88,671 | 100 |
| 44 | Accountant | Finance | $79,290 | $56,390–$128,130 | $84,984 | 4,850 |
| 45 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $79,200 | $53,990–$132,180 | $84,887 | 320 |
| 46 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $78,770 | $64,610–$108,770 | $84,427 | 340 |
| 47 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $78,630 | $64,680–$100,500 | $84,277 | 8,130 |
| 48 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $76,580 | $45,920–$128,100 | $82,079 | 3,440 |
| 49 | Web Developer | Technology | $75,680 | $39,730–$129,570 | $81,115 | 210 |
| 50 | Plumber | Trades | $75,040 | $47,720–$99,570 | $80,429 | 2,150 |
| 51 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $70,660 | $43,850–$118,340 | $75,734 | 1,050 |
| 52 | Writer/Author | Creative | $63,010 | $52,080–$95,440 | $67,535 | 90 |
| 53 | Electrician | Trades | $62,840 | $39,740–$92,650 | $67,353 | 2,870 |
| 54 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $62,480 | $47,870–$82,100 | $66,967 | 2,660 |
| 55 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $62,050 | $47,330–$93,760 | $66,506 | 640 |
| 56 | Web Designer | Technology | $61,960 | $48,850–$103,620 | $66,409 | 150 |
| 57 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $61,650 | $46,090–$79,610 | $66,077 | 3,640 |
| 58 | Carpenter | Trades | $61,360 | $44,560–$76,670 | $65,766 | 1,810 |
| 59 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $60,470 | $36,900–$78,570 | $64,812 | 1,870 |
| 60 | Paralegal | Legal | $60,080 | $37,490–$89,920 | $64,394 | 1,190 |
| 61 | Welder | Trades | $59,980 | $47,220–$74,850 | $64,287 | 1,170 |
| 62 | Statistician | Technology | $58,840 | $43,710–$116,850 | $63,065 | 0 |
| 63 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $56,520 | $37,570–$79,640 | $60,579 | 740 |
| 64 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $50,240 | $39,330–$86,010 | $53,848 | 700 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, IA's pay distribution reflects its mix of regional employers and industries, plus the local cost of living that affects nominal salary levels in the BLS data.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
Des Moines, IA's cost-of-living index of 93.3 runs 7% below the U.S. national average. Lower nominal pay here often translates to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs — see the COL-Adjusted column for the apples-to-apples figure.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Obstetrician/Gynecologist with five-plus years of experience in Des Moines, IA should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($404,110) or 90th percentile ($438,830), not the $369,390 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $369K Obstetrician/Gynecologist salary in Des Moines, IA (COL 93.3) translates to $396K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Obstetrician/Gynecologist in Des Moines, IA page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Des Moines, IA is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a median salary of $369,390 and a 90th-percentile reading of $438,830. The role employs roughly 40 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
27 of the 64 BLS-tracked occupations in Des Moines, IA have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 64 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Des Moines, IA is $106,494. The cost-of-living index is 93.3, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $114,141 in equivalent purchasing power.
Des Moines, IA has a cost-of-living index of 93.3, below the national average. Nominal pay translates better than face value, making it a strong choice for many careers — particularly the Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Pediatrician, Family Medicine Physician occupations at the top of the ranking.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.