Technology Des Moines, IA Pop. 214,133

Data Scientist Salary in Des Moines, Iowa

The median data scientist salary in Des Moines, IA is $96,138 per year, which is 11% below the national median and 3.5% above the Iowa state average.

City Median
$96,138
vs State Avg
+$3,241
vs National
$-11,882
Cost of Living
92%

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

Des Moines offers a median data scientist salary of $96,138, which is $3,241 above the Iowa state average of $92,897. Compared to the national median of $108,020, 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 scientists in Des Moines spans from $54,646 at the 10th percentile to $158,598 at the 90th percentile — a $103,952 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $64,080, while senior data scientists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $146,850. With a population of 214,133, Des Moines is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Scientist Salary in Des Moines by Experience

In Des Moines, an entry-level data scientist earns around $64,080, while experienced professionals earn up to $146,850 per year. The local cost of living index is 92% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$64,080
$-7,920 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$99,680
$-12,320 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$146,850
$-18,150 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Des Moines, IA

Percentile Des Moines
10th Percentile $54,646
25th Percentile $74,938
Median (50th) $96,138
75th Percentile $125,490
90th Percentile $158,598

Data Scientist Salary in Other Iowa Cities

Iowa City, IA
$99,378
Pop. 74,828
Cedar Rapids, IA
$91,817
Pop. 137,710
Davenport, IA
$89,657
Pop. 101,724
Sioux City, IA
$87,496
Pop. 85,797

How to Become a Data Scientist in Des Moines

Education

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

Key Skills

PythonRSQLMachine LearningStatisticsData Visualization

Job Outlook

Nationally, data scientist employment is projected to grow 35% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Des Moines may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Scientist Jobs in Des Moines

Browse open data scientist positions in Des Moines, IA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Scientist Salary in Des Moines

How much does a Data Scientist make in Des Moines, IA? ▼
The median data scientist salary in Des Moines, Iowa is $96,138 per year, which is 11% below the national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $54,646 (10th percentile) to $158,598 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Scientist make per hour in Des Moines? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $96,138, a data scientist in Des Moines earns approximately $46 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Des Moines compare to the Iowa state average for data scientist pay? ▼
Des Moines's median data scientist salary of $96,138 is 3.5% above the Iowa state average of $92,897. 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 scientist salary of $96,138 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 scientist in Des Moines? ▼
Most data scientist positions in Des Moines require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, R, SQL, Machine Learning. The job market is projected to grow 35% nationally over the next decade.