Data Scientist salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Data Scientists in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $103,030 a year ($49.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,240 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,190 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 8% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $95,830. There are 3.1 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $104,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,480 | $31.48 |
| 25th percentile | $80,360 | $38.63 |
| Median | $103,030 | $49.53 |
| 75th percentile | $133,460 | $64.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,190 | $72.21 |
| Average (mean) | $104,930 | $50.45 |
Half of data scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,585.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,292.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,962.69 |
| Weekly | $1,981.35 |
| Hourly | $49.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $106,340 | 280 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $100,830 | 1,200 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $99,410 | 180 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $90,030 | 40 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $82,050 | 70 |
| Ames, IA | $79,430 | 100 |
| Dubuque, IA | $74,790 | 90 |
| Iowa City, IA | $72,120 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
See Data Scientist pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Actuary | $130,540 | $62.76 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $83,410 | $40.10 |
| Statistician | $58,840 | $28.29 |
| Software Developer | $126,460 | $60.80 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $59,450 | $28.58 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $109,490 | $52.64 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $89,800 | $43.17 |
| Information Security Analyst | $123,740 | $59.49 |
| Computer Network Architect | $108,280 | $52.06 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $98,190 | $47.21 |
| Computer Programmer | $79,200 | $38.08 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $75,680 | $36.38 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for data scientists in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $103,030 a year, or $49.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of data scientists in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $150,190 a year. The top 25% earn $133,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,480 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $80,360 or less.
How many data scientists work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 1,240 data scientists are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.