Jobs, pay and daily life in Des Moines, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Des Moines is a city in Iowa with 212,421 residents. The median household earns $65,932 a year and the median rent is $1,090 a month, which is 19.8% of the median household income. It is part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area, where BLS counts 404,130 jobs.
There are 226 federal postings open in Iowa (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representatives | 12,070 | 1.79 | $48,880 | $35,920 | $66,240 | +9% |
| Retail Salespersons | 11,000 | 1.09 | $33,430 | $27,630 | $46,780 | -6% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 10,060 | 1.00 | $29,140 | $21,870 | $36,400 | -7% |
| Cashiers | 8,720 | 1.09 | $29,640 | $24,140 | $37,610 | -10% |
| General and Operations Managers | 8,370 | 0.92 | $98,780 | $46,950 | $208,630 | -7% |
| Registered Nurses | 8,130 | 0.93 | $78,630 | $64,680 | $100,500 | -19% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 7,840 | 1.46 | $60,720 | $43,950 | $79,240 | +4% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 7,430 | 1.01 | $36,800 | $29,090 | $48,480 | -1% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 7,000 | 0.91 | $46,370 | $33,580 | $55,770 | +15% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 6,250 | 1.06 | $20,410 | $15,080 | $48,760 | -42% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 6,210 | 0.55 | $36,350 | $30,800 | $44,520 | +2% |
| Office Clerks, General | 6,010 | 0.94 | $46,540 | $31,600 | $62,180 | +3% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 5,720 | 1.00 | $35,000 | $29,570 | $46,850 | -5% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 5,140 | 1.39 | $34,620 | $23,740 | $38,340 | -6% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 5,130 | 1.82 | $86,540 | $55,890 | $138,850 | +4% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 4,900 | 1.52 | $67,040 | $42,820 | $128,190 | -7% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 4,850 | 1.29 | $79,290 | $56,390 | $128,130 | -5% |
| Nursing Assistants | 4,660 | 1.24 | $43,940 | $35,420 | $50,630 | +4% |
| Software Developers | 4,240 | 0.97 | $126,460 | $79,170 | $168,180 | -7% |
| Financial Managers | 3,800 | 1.74 | $154,140 | $94,230 | $263,790 | -7% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | 1,230 | 2.31 | $290,870 | $96,550 | $390,260 | +36% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 2,050 | 1.17 | $164,840 | $111,990 | $215,440 | -6% |
| Financial Managers | 3,800 | 1.74 | $154,140 | $94,230 | $263,790 | -7% |
| Pharmacists | 850 | 1.01 | $141,110 | $123,510 | $164,900 | +0% |
| Managers, All Other | 1,420 | 0.88 | $139,110 | $74,050 | $234,030 | -2% |
| Human Resources Managers | 520 | 0.91 | $138,140 | $91,450 | $233,690 | -7% |
| Sales Managers | 1,200 | 0.73 | $136,570 | $75,420 | $223,300 | -8% |
| Marketing Managers | 950 | 0.93 | $135,140 | $81,220 | $214,220 | -19% |
| Lawyers | 1,760 | 0.90 | $134,560 | $65,830 | $292,020 | -16% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 820 | 0.97 | $132,230 | $113,470 | $166,960 | -0% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 1,010 | 1.36 | $126,830 | $62,070 | $197,770 | +21% |
| Software Developers | 4,240 | 0.97 | $126,460 | $79,170 | $168,180 | -7% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 630 | 0.92 | $126,190 | $76,680 | $172,400 | +11% |
| Information Security Analysts | 720 | 1.46 | $123,740 | $73,200 | $167,610 | -4% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 850 | 0.99 | $117,980 | $79,840 | $153,260 | +11% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 1,770 | 1.57 | $109,490 | $50,840 | $163,770 | -6% |
| Computer Network Architects | 640 | 1.38 | $108,280 | $66,870 | $160,320 | -19% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 510 | 0.79 | $107,550 | $74,710 | $177,960 | -15% |
| Construction Managers | 1,020 | 1.03 | $103,920 | $65,560 | $201,450 | -10% |
| Data Scientists | 1,240 | 1.82 | $103,030 | $65,480 | $150,190 | -14% |
These figures are for the whole Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $51,820 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.3% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.2% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 11.4% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 11.1% |
| Retail trade | 10.9% |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.4% |
| Construction | 8.0% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 5.7% |
| Other services | 4.8% |
| Public administration | 3.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.5% |
| Information | 1.5% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.9% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 70.9% |
| Public transit | 0.8% |
| Walk | 2.4% |
| Work from home | 13.1% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 5.7% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $65,932 |
| Income per person | $37,863 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,090 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 19.8% |
| Median home value | $194,700 |
| Homeowners | 60.5% |
| Poverty rate | 14.9% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 91.7 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $51,820 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 3.80%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 87.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 29.7% |
| Born abroad | 14.2% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 71.1% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -5.6 | 22 | 23 |
| Feb | -4.1 | 25 | 29 |
| Mar | 3.3 | 38 | 48 |
| Apr | 10.3 | 51 | 91 |
| May | 16.4 | 62 | 120 |
| Jun | 22.3 | 72 | 130 |
| Jul | 24.8 | 77 | 94 |
| Aug | 23.4 | 74 | 110 |
| Sep | 18.9 | 66 | 87 |
| Oct | 10.8 | 51 | 71 |
| Nov | 3.7 | 39 | 42 |
| Dec | -3.0 | 27 | 38 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | IA | 103 mi | 137,264 | $70,424 | $967 |
| Omaha | NE | 128 mi | 489,263 | $71,640 | $1,229 |
| Lincoln | NE | 168 mi | 294,856 | $71,867 | $1,086 |
| Kansas City | MO | 176 mi | 516,045 | $69,958 | $1,292 |
| Independence | MO | 176 mi | 121,740 | $60,339 | $1,109 |
| Rochester | MN | 178 mi | 122,330 | $89,389 | $1,399 |
| Kansas City | KS | 179 mi | 155,135 | $62,401 | $1,123 |
| Columbia | MO | 194 mi | 128,548 | $66,498 | $1,097 |
| Overland Park | KS | 194 mi | 200,306 | $104,834 | $1,515 |
| Olathe | KS | 197 mi | 145,057 | $114,009 | $1,314 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
212,421 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,090 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 19.8% of the median household income.
$65,932 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.3% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
Iowa. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.