SOC 17-2112 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations · May 2025

How much do Industrial Engineers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Industrial Engineers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $98,270. The 10th percentile is $74,110 and the 90th percentile is $134,040. Employment is 520.

Median annual wage

$98,270

10th percentile
$74,110
25th percentile
$80,100
Median
$98,270
75th percentile
$110,510
90th percentile
$134,040
Mean
$100,390

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Paramedics seated in an ambulance
Paramedics in an ambulance. Photograph by Jim Legans, Jr.. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Percentile spread

For Industrial Engineers, the published 10th percentile is $74,110 and the 90th percentile is $134,040. The difference is $59,930, which is 61.0% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $80,100 to the 75th at $110,510, covers $30,410.

The mean annual wage is $100,390, which sits above the median of $98,270. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median is 4.1% lower than the national median of $102,440 for Industrial Engineers. In 2024 national prices the local median is $107,163, which is 4.6% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 0.6% higher than the Iowa median of $97,690.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 91.701, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $98,270 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Industrial Engineers at $107,163 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

15 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Industrial Engineers. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ranks 10th of 16 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

  • Ames, IA is 32 miles away, with a median of $88,650 and employment of 140. That median is 9.8% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $99,797, against $107,163 here.
  • Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is 94 miles away, with a median of $92,330 and employment of 120. That median is 6% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $106,057, against $107,163 here.
  • Iowa City, IA is 109 miles away, with a median of $85,800 and employment of 180. That median is 12.7% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $93,761, against $107,163 here.

Employment share

Industrial Engineers accounts for 0.13% of wage-and-salary employment in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (520 of 404,130). Nationally the occupation is 0.24% of employment (365,740 of 155,495,730). The local share is 0.55 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.

Highest-paying jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · Industrial Engineers by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices

Questions this page answers

How much do Industrial Engineers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Industrial Engineers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $98,270. The 10th percentile is $74,110 and the 90th percentile is $134,040. Employment is 520.

How does that compare with the national median for Industrial Engineers?

The local median is 4.1% lower than the national median of $102,440.

What is Industrial Engineers pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA after local prices?

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 91.701, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $98,270 is $107,163. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.

How does Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA compare with nearby metros for Industrial Engineers?

Ames, IA is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 32 miles away, at $88,650. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ranks 10th of 16 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.