Question 1

What is the cost of living in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

Accepted Answer

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA's overall price level (BEA Regional Price Parity) is 91.7, where 100 equals the U.S. average. That means everyday goods, services, and housing cost about 8.3% less than the national average. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom is $1,318/month.

Question 2

What is the average salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

Accepted Answer

Across the 100 BLS-tracked occupation categories with published data in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, the average median wage is $128,766. The single highest-paying occupation here is Emergency Medicine Physicians at $426,310/year (BLS OEWS).

Question 3

What are the highest-paying jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines?

Accepted Answer

Based on BLS OEWS data, the top-paying occupations in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA are: 1) Emergency Medicine Physicians at $426,310; 2) Obstetricians and Gynecologists at $369,390; 3) Psychiatrists at $358,020; 4) Physicians, All Other at $309,880; 5) Chief Executives at $290,870. Click any occupation above to see the full wage breakdown (10th to 90th percentile).

Question 4

How much does it cost to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Des Moines-West Des Moines?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a 2-bedroom unit in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $1,318/month. FMR is the rent level HUD uses to administer housing assistance and reflects the 40th percentile of standard-quality rentals, updated annually.

Question 5

Where does AffordMap's Des Moines-West Des Moines data come from?

Accepted Answer

Salary figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Cost of living comes from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (RPP). Rent comes from HUD Fair Market Rents. All three are federal datasets, updated annually, and free to use. AffordMap pairs them so you can see what a salary actually buys after local costs.

Rank	Occupation	Category	Median salary	Hourly
71	Financial and Investment Analysts	Business & Finance	$98K	$47.35/hr
72	Industrial Engineers	Engineering	$98K	$47.25/hr
73	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	Technology	$98K	$47.21/hr
74	Physical Therapists	Healthcare	$98K	$47.02/hr
75	Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other	Healthcare	$98K	$46.89/hr
76	Architects, Except Landscape and Naval	Engineering	$97K	$46.85/hr
77	Civil Engineers	Engineering	$97K	$46.79/hr
78	Economists	Science	$96K	$46.3/hr
79	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door	Repair & Maintenance	$95K	$45.86/hr
80	Gas Plant Operators	Production & Manufacturing	$95K	$45.8/hr

Top Paying Jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Highest paying careers in Des Moines-West Des Moines

Affordability snapshot: Des Moines-West Des Moines