What is the median wage in Des Moines-West Des Moines?

The median wage for all occupations in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area is $51,820 a year, compared with $48,540 a year for Iowa (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).

What is the highest paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?

Among occupations with at least 50 jobs, emergency medicine physicians have the highest median wage at $426,310 a year.

Checked Oct 23, 2026

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Wages

Pay for every occupation in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025).

Median wage: $51,820 a year; All occupations
Iowa median: $48,540 a year
Employment: 404,130; Wage and salary jobs
Occupations with data: 513

Pay range in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

All occupations: 10th to 90th percentile, middle half shaded

10%: $29,900Median: $51,82090%: $113,430

Highest paying occupations

Occupations with at least 50 jobs here

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#	Occupation	Employment	Median wage	Mean wage
1	Emergency Medicine Physicians	50	$426,310	$357,720
2	Psychiatrists	50	$358,020	$305,880
3	Physicians, All Other	460	$309,880	$283,770
4	Chief Executives	1,230	$290,870	$276,500
5	Pediatricians, General	90	$271,190	$213,930
6	Family Medicine Physicians	250	$265,200	$310,640
7	Anesthesiologists	190	$239,200 or more	$239,200 or more
8	Nurse Anesthetists	80	$237,670	$255,000
9	Dentists, General	360	$209,300	$204,670
10	Physicists	50	$178,110	$171,100
11	Computer and Information Systems Managers	2,050	$164,840	$166,630
12	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	60	$160,990	$155,290
13	Financial Managers	3,800	$154,140	$166,200
14	Compensation and Benefits Managers	60	$150,850	$157,470
15	Architectural and Engineering Managers	360	$148,330	$154,700

Most common occupations

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#	Occupation	Employment	Median wage	Mean wage
1	Customer Service Representatives	12,070	$48,880	$51,200
2	Retail Salespersons	11,000	$33,430	$35,600
3	Fast Food and Counter Workers	10,060	$29,140	$29,940
4	Cashiers	8,720	$29,640	$31,500
5	General and Operations Managers	8,370	$98,780	$117,430
6	Registered Nurses	8,130	$78,630	$81,710
7	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	7,840	$60,720	$63,480
8	Stockers and Order Fillers	7,430	$36,800	$39,220
9	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand	7,000	$46,370	$45,160
10	Waiters and Waitresses	6,250	$20,410	$27,240
11	Home Health and Personal Care Aides	6,210	$36,350	$36,820
12	Office Clerks, General	6,010	$46,540	$46,890
13	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	5,720	$35,000	$36,270
14	Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	5,140	$34,620	$33,080
15	Business Operations Specialists, All Other	5,130	$86,540	$95,330

Jobs concentrated here

Highest location quotient: the share of jobs compared with the U.S. (2.0 = twice the national share)

Lowest paying occupations

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

Occupation	Employment	Median wage	Mean wage
Waiters and Waitresses	6,250	$20,410	$27,240
Bartenders	2,200	$22,340	$27,620
Tour and Travel Guides	110	$22,490	$27,590
Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants	110	$23,830	$25,710
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers	370	$26,480	$26,100
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers	320	$26,870	$27,140
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	790	$27,730	$26,510
Amusement and Recreation Attendants	1,700	$27,860	$28,370
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	850	$28,270	$30,890
Physical Therapist Aides	100	$29,120	$30,090

Every occupation in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median wage by occupation group

Management Occupations (33)

Administrative Services Managers$126,190 a year
Advertising and Promotions Managers$115,900 a year
Architectural and Engineering Managers$148,330 a year
Chief Executives$290,870 a year
Compensation and Benefits Managers$150,850 a year
Computer and Information Systems Managers$164,840 a year
Construction Managers$103,920 a year
Education Administrators, All Other$104,810 a year
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$117,980 a year
Education Administrators, Postsecondary$83,180 a year
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$49,210 a year
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$76,800 a year
Facilities Managers$103,860 a year
Financial Managers$154,140 a year
Food Service Managers$66,860 a year
Fundraising Managers$100,850 a year
Funeral Home Managers$90,410 a year
General and Operations Managers$98,780 a year
Human Resources Managers$138,140 a year
Industrial Production Managers$107,550 a year
Lodging Managers$60,740 a year
Managers, All Other$139,110 a year
Marketing Managers$135,140 a year
Medical and Health Services Managers$101,550 a year
Natural Sciences Managers$118,740 a year
Personal Service Managers, All Other$82,330 a year
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$60,600 a year
Public Relations Managers$126,520 a year
Purchasing Managers$122,910 a year
Sales Managers$136,570 a year
Social and Community Service Managers$73,840 a year
Training and Development Managers$120,640 a year
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$100,880 a year

Business and Financial Operations Occupations (29)

Accountants and Auditors$79,290 a year
Budget Analysts$91,920 a year
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$86,540 a year
Buyers and Purchasing Agents$73,710 a year
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,710 a year
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$77,990 a year
Compliance Officers$84,590 a year
Cost Estimators$78,500 a year
Credit Analysts$80,190 a year
Credit Counselors$49,160 a year
Financial and Investment Analysts$98,490 a year
Financial Examiners$85,450 a year
Financial Risk Specialists$108,110 a year
Financial Specialists, All Other$80,340 a year
Fundraisers$65,060 a year
Human Resources Specialists$71,600 a year
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage$80,370 a year
Insurance Underwriters$79,230 a year
Labor Relations Specialists$81,960 a year
Loan Officers$101,190 a year
Logisticians$77,860 a year
Management Analysts$90,730 a year
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$76,580 a year
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$60,410 a year
Personal Financial Advisors$94,270 a year
Project Management Specialists$101,150 a year
Property Appraisers and Assessors$92,370 a year
Tax Preparers$63,560 a year
Training and Development Specialists$74,610 a year

Computer and Mathematical Occupations (18)

Actuaries$130,540 a year
Computer Network Architects$108,280 a year
Computer Network Support Specialists$62,050 a year
Computer Occupations, All Other$109,490 a year
Computer Programmers$79,200 a year
Computer Systems Analysts$102,070 a year
Computer User Support Specialists$59,450 a year
Data Scientists$103,030 a year
Database Administrators$109,750 a year
Database Architects$120,030 a year
Information Security Analysts$123,740 a year
Network and Computer Systems Administrators$89,800 a year
Operations Research Analysts$83,410 a year
Software Developers$126,460 a year
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$98,190 a year
Statisticians$58,840 a year
Web and Digital Interface Designers$75,680 a year
Web Developers$61,960 a year

Architecture and Engineering Occupations (21)

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$97,460 a year
Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,240 a year
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,470 a year
Civil Engineers$97,330 a year
Drafters, All Other$62,840 a year
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,440 a year
Electrical and Electronics Drafters$74,470 a year
Electrical Engineers$107,040 a year
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$78,150 a year
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$81,330 a year
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$51,200 a year
Engineers, All Other$100,880 a year
Environmental Engineers$94,800 a year
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$99,480 a year
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,700 a year
Industrial Engineers$98,270 a year
Mechanical Drafters$75,510 a year
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$105,160 a year
Mechanical Engineers$85,490 a year
Surveying and Mapping Technicians$60,040 a year
Surveyors$78,860 a year

Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations (26)

Agricultural Technicians$65,300 a year
Atmospheric and Space Scientists$76,850 a year
Biochemists and Biophysicists$83,790 a year
Biological Scientists, All Other$99,420 a year
Chemical Technicians$57,000 a year
Chemists$87,560 a year
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$84,740 a year
Conservation Scientists$76,540 a year
Economists$96,310 a year
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$46,950 a year
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$81,220 a year
Epidemiologists$83,650 a year
Food Science Technicians$48,820 a year
Food Scientists and Technologists$76,580 a year
Forensic Science Technicians$71,160 a year
Forest and Conservation Technicians$54,940 a year
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$43,960 a year
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$95,200 a year
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$92,310 a year
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$59,080 a year
Physicists$178,110 a year
School Psychologists$76,320 a year
Social Science Research Assistants$33,840 a year
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$91,920 a year
Soil and Plant Scientists$132,290 a year
Urban and Regional Planners$85,980 a year

Community and Social Service Occupations (17)

Child, Family, and School Social Workers$56,280 a year
Clergy$61,640 a year
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$48,310 a year
Community Health Workers$46,790 a year
Counselors, All Other$73,380 a year
Directors, Religious Activities and Education$66,140 a year
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$57,580 a year
Health Education Specialists$75,750 a year
Healthcare Social Workers$62,360 a year
Marriage and Family Therapists$63,380 a year
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$49,750 a year
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$79,370 a year
Rehabilitation Counselors$46,200 a year
Religious Workers, All Other$47,680 a year
Social and Human Service Assistants$45,760 a year
Social Workers, All Other$94,930 a year
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$61,320 a year

Legal Occupations (6)

Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$127,480 a year
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$147,510 a year
Judicial Law Clerks$63,140 a year
Lawyers$134,560 a year
Legal Support Workers, All Other$44,470 a year
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,080 a year

Educational Instruction and Library Occupations (35)

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$75,490 a year
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$75,180 a year
Business Teachers, Postsecondary$82,730 a year
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$62,420 a year
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$60,980 a year
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary$76,580 a year
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$79,800 a year
Curators$48,600 a year
Education Teachers, Postsecondary$48,090 a year
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$36,560 a year
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$61,650 a year
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$76,960 a year
Farm and Home Management Educators$43,720 a year
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$102,220 a year
Instructional Coordinators$76,600 a year
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$59,370 a year
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$75,960 a year
Library Technicians$46,840 a year
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$74,030 a year
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$60,980 a year
Museum Technicians and Conservators$68,960 a year
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$80,180 a year
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$73,760 a year
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$33,850 a year
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$63,920 a year
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$62,480 a year
Self-Enrichment Teachers$34,880 a year
Special Education Teachers, All Other$73,110 a year
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$59,780 a year
Special Education Teachers, Middle School$63,890 a year
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$60,310 a year
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$37,750 a year
Teachers and Instructors, All Other$54,080 a year
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$34,620 a year
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$50,450 a year

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations (26)

Art Directors$90,000 a year
Audio and Video Technicians$51,030 a year
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$37,770 a year
Broadcast Technicians$47,880 a year
Coaches and Scouts$46,710 a year
Commercial and Industrial Designers$77,570 a year
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners$82,040 a year
Designers, All OtherNot reported
Disc Jockeys, Except RadioNot reported
Editors$63,720 a year
Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All OtherNot reported
Floral Designers$37,590 a year
Graphic Designers$56,520 a year
Interior Designers$57,840 a year
Interpreters and Translators$55,400 a year
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$43,320 a year
Music Directors and Composers$61,740 a year
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$54,230 a year
Photographers$42,080 a year
Producers and Directors$62,370 a year
Public Relations Specialists$70,660 a year
Set and Exhibit Designers$50,640 a year
Sound Engineering Technicians$57,400 a year
Technical Writers$69,450 a year
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials$34,370 a year
Writers and Authors$63,010 a year

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations (49)

Anesthesiologists$239,200 or more a year
Athletic Trainers$50,110 a year
Audiologists$104,580 a year
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$78,850 a year
Chiropractors$74,810 a year
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$50,240 a year
Dental Hygienists$93,660 a year
Dentists, General$209,300 a year
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$87,080 a year
Dietetic Technicians$37,540 a year
Dietitians and Nutritionists$65,820 a year
Emergency Medical Technicians$42,470 a year
Emergency Medicine Physicians$426,310 a year
Family Medicine Physicians$265,200 a year
General Internal Medicine Physicians$127,190 a year
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$86,790 a year
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$49,960 a year
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other$97,520 a year
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$43,090 a year
Hearing Aid Specialists$63,920 a year
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,670 a year
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$85,070 a year
Medical Records Specialists$54,270 a year
Nurse Anesthetists$237,670 a year
Nurse Practitioners$132,230 a year
Obstetricians and Gynecologists$369,390 a year
Occupational Therapists$78,770 a year
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$48,570 a year
Opticians, Dispensing$46,080 a year
Optometrists$129,780 a year
Paramedics$61,980 a year
Pediatricians, General$271,190 a year
Pharmacists$141,110 a year
Pharmacy Technicians$46,620 a year
Physical Therapists$97,790 a year
Physician Assistants$133,830 a year
Physicians, All Other$309,880 a year
Physicians, Pathologists$239,200 or more a year
Psychiatric Technicians$39,750 a year
Psychiatrists$358,020 a year
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$67,640 a year
Radiologists$239,200 or more a year
Recreational Therapists$62,000 a year
Registered Nurses$78,630 a year
Respiratory Therapists$75,650 a year
Speech-Language Pathologists$84,080 a year
Surgical Technologists$62,250 a year
Veterinarians$130,900 a year
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$47,780 a year

Healthcare Support Occupations (14)

Dental Assistants$50,020 a year
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$46,310 a year
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,350 a year
Massage Therapists$76,090 a year
Medical Assistants$46,920 a year
Medical Equipment Preparers$45,020 a year
Nursing Assistants$43,940 a year
Occupational Therapy Assistants$64,250 a year
Orderlies$37,090 a year
Pharmacy Aides$35,120 a year
Phlebotomists$38,490 a year
Physical Therapist Aides$29,120 a year
Physical Therapist Assistants$61,360 a year
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$37,560 a year

Protective Service Occupations (13)

Correctional Officers and Jailers$63,230 a year
Detectives and Criminal Investigators$79,560 a year
Firefighters$56,910 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$90,370 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$110,210 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$117,790 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other$74,530 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$45,700 a year
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$26,480 a year
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$81,810 a year
Private Detectives and Investigators$41,110 a year
Security Guards$37,550 a year
Transportation Security Screeners$61,590 a year

Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations (15)

Bartenders$22,340 a year
Chefs and Head Cooks$51,210 a year
Cooks, Fast Food$30,360 a year
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$36,320 a year
Cooks, Restaurant$36,070 a year
Cooks, Short Order$36,760 a year
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$27,730 a year
Dishwashers$30,450 a year
Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,140 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$42,650 a year
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$34,290 a year
Food Preparation Workers$33,120 a year
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$33,790 a year
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$28,270 a year
Waiters and Waitresses$20,410 a year

Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations (8)

First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$47,600 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$58,690 a year
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,000 a year
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$45,180 a year
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$34,360 a year
Pest Control Workers$48,200 a year
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$46,900 a year
Tree Trimmers and Pruners$42,080 a year

Personal Care and Service Occupations (16)

Amusement and Recreation Attendants$27,860 a year
Animal Caretakers$30,950 a year
Animal Trainers$38,370 a year
Childcare Workers$29,760 a year
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$38,700 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$42,040 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$38,920 a year
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$35,640 a year
Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants$23,830 a year
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$70,100 a year
Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other$30,700 a year
Recreation Workers$36,150 a year
Residential Advisors$38,310 a year
Skincare Specialists$38,730 a year
Tour and Travel Guides$22,490 a year
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$26,870 a year

Sales and Related Occupations (18)

Advertising Sales Agents$62,510 a year
Cashiers$29,640 a year
Counter and Rental Clerks$38,920 a year
Demonstrators and Product Promoters$37,670 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$98,590 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,800 a year
Insurance Sales Agents$61,140 a year
Parts Salespersons$48,850 a year
Real Estate Sales AgentsNot reported
Retail Salespersons$33,430 a year
Sales and Related Workers, All Other$36,160 a year
Sales Engineers$83,450 a year
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$65,510 a year
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,040 a year
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$126,830 a year
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$65,670 a year
Telemarketers$32,180 a year
Travel Agents$47,420 a year

Office and Administrative Support Occupations (46)

Bill and Account Collectors$51,730 a year
Billing and Posting Clerks$47,990 a year
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$50,610 a year
Brokerage Clerks$57,560 a year
Cargo and Freight Agents$44,240 a year
Couriers and Messengers$39,270 a year
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$57,300 a year
Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks$57,440 a year
Customer Service Representatives$48,880 a year
Data Entry Keyers$42,580 a year
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$44,730 a year
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$63,650 a year
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64,990 a year
File Clerks$49,810 a year
Financial Clerks, All Other$51,770 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$71,690 a year
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$34,180 a year
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,800 a year
Information and Record Clerks, All Other$50,390 a year
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$46,770 a year
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$39,810 a year
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$47,430 a year
Library Assistants, Clerical$30,750 a year
Loan Interviewers and Clerks$52,970 a year
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$35,720 a year
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$42,160 a year
New Accounts Clerks$46,060 a year
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$66,710 a year
Office Clerks, General$46,540 a year
Office Machine Operators, Except Computer$38,550 a year
Order Clerks$43,010 a year
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$58,600 a year
Postal Service Clerks$61,710 a year
Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250 a year
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$60,530 a year
Procurement Clerks$51,520 a year
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,320 a year
Public Safety Telecommunicators$64,380 a year
Receptionists and Information Clerks$37,910 a year
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,500 a year
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$47,300 a year
Statistical AssistantsNot reported
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$41,100 a year
Tellers$45,450 a year
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$50,490 a year
Word Processors and Typists$45,100 a year

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations (5)

Agricultural Equipment Operators$46,220 a year
Agricultural Inspectors$57,080 a year
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$36,360 a year
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$40,120 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$50,560 a year

Construction and Extraction Occupations (25)

Brickmasons and Blockmasons$75,810 a year
Carpenters$61,360 a year
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,700 a year
Construction and Building Inspectors$73,910 a year
Construction Laborers$49,980 a year
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$49,670 a year
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas$55,920 a year
Electricians$62,840 a year
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$61,830 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$82,090 a year
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$63,200 a year
Glaziers$62,590 a year
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$52,410 a year
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$47,710 a year
Highway Maintenance Workers$60,900 a year
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$70,410 a year
Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$46,300 a year
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,610 a year
Painters, Construction and Maintenance$57,410 a year
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$75,040 a year
Roofers$49,510 a year
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$63,750 a year
Sheet Metal Workers$66,000 a year
Structural Iron and Steel Workers$80,080 a year
Tapers$67,050 a year

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations (28)

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,100 a year
Automotive Body and Related Repairers$58,210 a year
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$60,470 a year
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,630 a year
Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers$46,700 a year
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$47,330 a year
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$95,380 a year
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers$49,360 a year
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$70,180 a year
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$102,230 a year
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$63,750 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,230 a year
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,640 a year
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$42,420 a year
Home Appliance Repairers$43,440 a year
Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,590 a year
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$49,060 a year
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$50,780 a year
Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,000 a year
Mechanical Door Repairers$64,260 a year
Medical Equipment Repairers$60,540 a year
Millwrights$63,950 a year
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,810 a year
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$47,270 a year
Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians$46,490 a year
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$64,270 a year
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$66,920 a year
Tire Repairers and Changers$38,480 a year

Production Occupations (48)

Bakers$37,680 a year
Butchers and Meat Cutters$36,770 a year
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$49,040 a year
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$59,230 a year
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,820 a year
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$58,870 a year
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$67,650 a year
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,160 a year
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,920 a year
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,510 a year
Dental Laboratory Technicians$47,550 a year
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$43,660 a year
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,560 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$71,150 a year
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$49,780 a year
Food Batchmakers$47,010 a year
Food Processing Workers, All Other$42,960 a year
Gas Plant Operators$95,260 a year
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic$44,890 a year
Helpers--Production Workers$52,050 a year
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$50,850 a year
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$56,730 a year
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,380 a year
Machinists$59,290 a year
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$45,750 a year
Medical Appliance Technicians$49,450 a year
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$47,880 a year
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,170 a year
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$47,400 a year
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,290 a year
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,700 a year
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$51,100 a year
Power Plant Operators$100,700 a year
Prepress Technicians and Workers$54,000 a year
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$33,510 a year
Print Binding and Finishing Workers$38,370 a year
Printing Press Operators$43,450 a year
Production Workers, All Other$40,660 a year
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,470 a year
Sewing Machine Operators$37,270 a year
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$59,470 a year
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers$38,910 a year
Tire Builders$63,060 a year
Tool and Die Makers$73,170 a year
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$67,450 a year
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$59,980 a year
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,980 a year
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$60,070 a year

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations (17)

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$160,990 a year
Bus Drivers, School$46,210 a year
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$58,930 a year
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$36,770 a year
Commercial Pilots$121,490 a year
Crane and Tower Operators$75,760 a year
Driver/Sales Workers$46,330 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling$61,340 a year
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$60,720 a year
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$49,080 a year
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$46,370 a year
Light Truck Drivers$43,200 a year
Packers and Packagers, Hand$37,540 a year
Parking Attendants$30,080 a year
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$56,990 a year
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$34,680 a year
Stockers and Order Fillers$36,800 a year

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage in Des Moines-West Des Moines?: The median wage for all occupations in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA area is $51,820 a year, compared with $48,540 a year for Iowa (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
What is the highest paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?: Among occupations with at least 50 jobs, emergency medicine physicians have the highest median wage at $426,310 a year.

Data sources

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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