May 2025 OEWS · Iowa
Highest-paying jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
All-occupations median
$51,820
- 10th percentile
- $29,900
- 25th percentile
- $37,550
- Median
- $51,820
- 75th percentile
- $78,320
- 90th percentile
- $113,430
- Mean
- $65,970
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
Employment across all occupations: 404,130.
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for this metro is 91.701, with the United States at 100. Compare prices.
Highest published annual medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | 50 | $69,670 | $426,310 | $476,170 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 40 | $208,740 | $369,390 | $438,830 |
| Psychiatrists | 50 | $113,920 | $358,020 | $427,810 |
| Physicians, All Other | 460 | $69,670 | $309,880 | $423,130 |
| Chief Executives | 1,230 | $96,550 | $290,870 | $390,260 |
| Pediatricians, General | 90 | $71,170 | $271,190 | $325,380 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 250 | $190,600 | $265,200 | $520,860 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 80 | $225,760 | $237,670 | $321,030 |
| Dentists, General | 360 | $137,870 | $209,300 | $259,990 |
| Physicists | 50 | $91,070 | $178,110 | $292,990 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 2,050 | $111,990 | $164,840 | $215,440 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 60 | $86,570 | $160,990 | $294,570 |
| Financial Managers | 3,800 | $94,230 | $154,140 | $263,790 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 60 | $94,940 | $150,850 | $215,700 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 360 | $100,600 | $148,330 | $211,950 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | 90 | $45,470 | $147,510 | $178,240 |
| Pharmacists | 850 | $123,510 | $141,110 | $164,900 |
| Managers, All Other | 1,420 | $74,050 | $139,110 | $234,030 |
| Human Resources Managers | 520 | $91,450 | $138,140 | $233,690 |
| Sales Managers | 1,200 | $75,420 | $136,570 | $223,300 |
| Marketing Managers | 950 | $81,220 | $135,140 | $214,220 |
| Lawyers | 1,760 | $65,830 | $134,560 | $292,020 |
| Physician Assistants | 340 | $99,990 | $133,830 | $188,860 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 430 | $74,250 | $132,290 | $171,530 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 820 | $113,470 | $132,230 | $166,960 |
| Veterinarians | 210 | $80,190 | $130,900 | $171,590 |
| Actuaries | 400 | $81,980 | $130,540 | $173,480 |
| Optometrists | 110 | $67,930 | $129,780 | $178,320 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | 70 | $99,460 | $127,480 | $207,480 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 120 | $69,670 | $127,190 | $296,840 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 1,010 | $62,070 | $126,830 | $197,770 |
| Public Relations Managers | 270 | $77,460 | $126,520 | $195,420 |
| Software Developers | 4,240 | $79,170 | $126,460 | $168,180 |
| Administrative Services Managers | 630 | $76,680 | $126,190 | $172,400 |
| Information Security Analysts | 720 | $73,200 | $123,740 | $167,610 |
| Purchasing Managers | 140 | $85,660 | $122,910 | $198,910 |
| Commercial Pilots | 130 | $81,270 | $121,490 | $206,390 |
| Training and Development Managers | 100 | $81,520 | $120,640 | $215,790 |
| Database Architects | 140 | $76,320 | $120,030 | $153,090 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | Not available | $75,230 | $118,740 | $206,950 |
Largest occupations
Questions this page answers
What is the median wage in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Across all occupations, the May 2025 median annual wage in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $51,820. Employment is 404,130.
Which published occupation has the highest median in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Emergency Medicine Physicians has the highest published annual median on this list, $426,310, in the May 2025 OEWS estimates for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.