Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Des Moines, IA: $129,050 (2026)

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

Des Moines offers a median site reliability engineer salary of $129,050, which is $4,350 above the Iowa state average of $124,700. Compared to the national median of $145,000, 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 site reliability engineers in Des Moines spans from $78,320 at the 10th percentile to $195,800 at the 90th percentile — a $117,480 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $81,880, while senior site reliability engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $186,900. With a population of 214,133, Des Moines is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Des Moines by Experience

In Des Moines, an entry-level site reliability engineer earns around $81,880, while experienced professionals earn up to $186,900 per year. The local cost of living index is 92% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)

$81,880

$-10,120 vs national

Mid Level (3-7 yrs)

$131,720

$-16,280 vs national

Senior Level (8+ yrs)

$186,900

$-23,100 vs national

Percentile	Des Moines	IA State	National
10th Percentile	$78,320	$75,680	$88,000
25th Percentile	$102,350	$98,900	$115,000
Median (50th)	$129,050	$124,700	$145,000
75th Percentile	$164,650	$159,100	$185,000
90th Percentile	$195,800	$189,200	$220,000

Percentile

Des Moines

10th Percentile

$78,320

25th Percentile

$102,350

Median (50th)

$129,050

75th Percentile

$164,650

90th Percentile

$195,800

How to Become a Site Reliability Engineer in Des Moines

Education

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

Key Skills

LinuxKubernetesTerraformPythonMonitoring ToolsIncident Response

Job Outlook

Nationally, site reliability engineer employment is projected to grow 22% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Des Moines may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Frequently Asked Questions: Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Des Moines

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make in Des Moines, IA? ▼

The median site reliability engineer salary in Des Moines, Iowa is $129,050 per year, which is 11% below the national median of $145,000. Salaries range from $78,320 (10th percentile) to $195,800 (90th percentile).

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make per hour in Des Moines? ▼

Based on the median annual salary of $129,050, a site reliability engineer in Des Moines earns approximately $62 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.

How does Des Moines compare to the Iowa state average for site reliability engineer pay? ▼

Des Moines's median site reliability engineer salary of $129,050 is 3.5% above the Iowa state average of $124,700. 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 site reliability engineer salary of $129,050 in Des Moines has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.

What qualifications do I need to become a site reliability engineer in Des Moines? ▼

Most site reliability engineer positions in Des Moines require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Linux, Kubernetes, Terraform, Python. The job market is projected to grow 22% nationally over the next decade.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Des Moines, Iowa