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

Percentile spread

For Physicists, the published 10th percentile is $91,070 and the 90th percentile is $292,990. The difference is $201,920, which is 113.4% 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 $107,510 to the 75th at $218,520, covers $111,010.

The mean annual wage is $171,100, which sits below the median of $178,110. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median is 3.4% higher than the national median of $172,250 for Physicists. In 2024 national prices the local median is $194,229, which is 12.8% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is about the same as the Iowa median of $178,110.

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 $178,110 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Physicists at $194,229 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

One other metropolitan area within 200 miles publishes a annual median for Physicists. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ranks 1st of 2 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).).

• Kansas City, MO-KS is 186 miles away, with a median of $141,200 and employment of 40. That median is 20.7% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $152,578, against $194,229 here.

Employment share

Physicists accounts for 0.01% of wage-and-salary employment in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (50 of 404,130). Nationally the occupation is 0.01% of employment (20,430 of 155,495,730). The local share is 0.94 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.