Technology Des Moines, IA Pop. 214,133

Data Engineer Salary in Des Moines, Iowa

The median data engineer salary in Des Moines, IA is $111,250 per year, which is 11% below the national median and 3.5% above the Iowa state average.

City Median
$111,250
vs State Avg
+$3,750
vs National
$-13,750
Cost of Living
92%

Data Engineer Pay in Des Moines: What to Expect (2026)

Des Moines offers a median data engineer salary of $111,250, which is $3,750 above the Iowa state average of $107,500. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Des Moines pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Des Moines's cost of living is 92% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for data engineers in Des Moines spans from $69,420 at the 10th percentile to $169,100 at the 90th percentile — a $99,680 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $71,200, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $160,200. With a population of 214,133, Des Moines is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Des Moines by Experience

In Des Moines, an entry-level data engineer earns around $71,200, while experienced professionals earn up to $160,200 per year. The local cost of living index is 92% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$71,200
$-8,800 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$113,030
$-13,970 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$160,200
$-19,800 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Des Moines, IA

Percentile Des Moines
10th Percentile $69,420
25th Percentile $89,000
Median (50th) $111,250
75th Percentile $140,620
90th Percentile $169,100

Data Engineer Salary in Other Iowa Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Des Moines

Education

Most data engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Des Moines and the surrounding Iowa area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonSQLSparkAirflowAWS/GCPData Modeling

Job Outlook

Nationally, data engineer employment is projected to grow 28% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Des Moines may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Des Moines

Browse open data engineer positions in Des Moines, IA:

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Des Moines

How much does a Data Engineer make in Des Moines, IA? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Des Moines, Iowa is $111,250 per year, which is 11% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $69,420 (10th percentile) to $169,100 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Des Moines? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $111,250, a data engineer in Des Moines earns approximately $53 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Des Moines compare to the Iowa state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Des Moines's median data engineer salary of $111,250 is 3.5% above the Iowa state average of $107,500. The local cost of living index is 92% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Des Moines, IA? ▼
Des Moines has a cost of living index of 92% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $111,250 in Des Moines has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Des Moines? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Des Moines require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, SQL, Spark, Airflow. The job market is projected to grow 28% nationally over the next decade.