Highest paying jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
The best paying occupations in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.
Cost of living: prices here run 8.3% below the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianDes Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $426,310 | $69,670 – $476,170 | 50 |
| 2 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $369,390 | $208,740 – $438,830 | 40 |
| 3 | PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree | $358,020 | $113,920 – $427,810 | 50 |
| 4 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $309,880 | $69,670 – $423,130 | 460 |
| 5 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $290,870 | $96,550 – $390,260 | 1,230 |
| 6 | Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $271,190 | $71,170 – $325,380 | 90 |
| 7 | Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $265,200 | $190,600 – $520,860 | 250 |
| 8 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $237,670 | $225,760 – $321,030 | 80 |
| 9 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $209,300 | $137,870 – $259,990 | 360 |
| 10 | PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree | $178,110 | $91,070 – $292,990 | 50 |
| 11 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $164,840 | $111,990 – $215,440 | 2,050 |
| 12 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree | $160,990 | $86,570 – $294,570 | 60 |
| 13 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $154,140 | $94,230 – $263,790 | 3,800 |
| 14 | Compensation and Benefits ManagersBachelor's degree | $150,850 | $94,940 – $215,700 | 60 |
| 15 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $148,330 | $100,600 – $211,950 | 360 |
| 16 | Judges, Magistrate Judges, and MagistratesDoctoral or professional degree | $147,510 | $45,470 – $178,240 | 90 |
| 17 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $141,110 | $123,510 – $164,900 | 850 |
| 18 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $139,110 | $74,050 – $234,030 | 1,420 |
| 19 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $138,140 | $91,450 – $233,690 | 520 |
| 20 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $136,570 | $75,420 – $223,300 | 1,200 |
| 21 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $135,140 | $81,220 – $214,220 | 950 |
| 22 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $134,560 | $65,830 – $292,020 | 1,760 |
| 23 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $133,830 | $99,990 – $188,860 | 340 |
| 24 | Soil and Plant ScientistsBachelor's degree | $132,290 | $74,250 – $171,530 | 430 |
| 25 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $132,230 | $113,470 – $166,960 | 820 |
| 26 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $130,900 | $80,190 – $171,590 | 210 |
| 27 | ActuariesBachelor's degree | $130,540 | $81,980 – $173,480 | 400 |
| 28 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $129,780 | $67,930 – $178,320 | 110 |
| 29 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersDoctoral or professional degree | $127,480 | $99,460 – $207,480 | 70 |
| 30 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $127,190 | $69,670 – $296,840 | 120 |
| 31 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree | $126,830 | $62,070 – $197,770 | 1,010 |
| 32 | Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree | $126,520 | $77,460 – $195,420 | 270 |
| 33 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $126,460 | $79,170 – $168,180 | 4,240 |
| 34 | Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $126,190 | $76,680 – $172,400 | 630 |
| 35 | Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree | $123,740 | $73,200 – $167,610 | 720 |
| 36 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $122,910 | $85,660 – $198,910 | 140 |
| 37 | Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award | $121,490 | $81,270 – $206,390 | 130 |
| 38 | Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree | $120,640 | $81,520 – $215,790 | 100 |
| 39 | Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $120,030 | $76,320 – $153,090 | 140 |
| 40 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $118,740 | $75,230 – $206,950 | — |
| 41 | Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree | $117,980 | $79,840 – $153,260 | 850 |
| 42 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $117,790 | $82,670 – $137,440 | 330 |
| 43 | Advertising and Promotions ManagersBachelor's degree | $115,900 | $79,660 – $271,790 | — |
| 44 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award | $110,210 | $70,560 – $112,140 | 160 |
| 45 | Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree | $109,750 | $61,420 – $157,350 | 130 |
| 46 | Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree | $109,490 | $50,840 – $163,770 | 1,770 |
| 47 | Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $108,280 | $66,870 – $160,320 | 640 |
| 48 | Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $108,110 | $81,950 – $168,440 | 350 |
| 49 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $107,550 | $74,710 – $177,960 | 510 |
| 50 | Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree | $107,040 | $77,790 – $153,800 | 280 |