Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $72,530/year ($34.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $79,095 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 27.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $73K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About atmospheric and space scientists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $122K | +25% | 60 |
| California | $118K | +21% | 580 |
| Idaho | $117K | +20% | 50 |
| Missouri | $116K | +20% | 140 |
| Oregon | $116K | +19% | 100 |
| New Mexico | $114K | +17% | 60 |
| Virginia | $112K | +15% | 150 |
| Nebraska | $110K | +13% | 80 |
| Tennessee | $110K | +13% | 120 |
| Montana | $107K | +10% | 60 |
| Maryland | $105K | +7% | 710 |
| Louisiana | $104K | +7% | 80 |
| New Jersey | $104K | +7% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $104K | +7% | 140 |
| Nevada | $104K | +6% | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $102K | +5% | 180 |
| Indiana | $102K | +4% | 80 |
| Maine | $102K | +4% | 50 |
| Alaska | $102K | +4% | 180 |
| District of Columbia | $98K | +1% | 80 |
| Michigan | $96K | -2% | 140 |
| Florida | $96K | -2% | 440 |
| South Carolina | $96K | -2% | 90 |
| North Dakota | $93K | -5% | 40 |
| Georgia | $91K | -7% | 170 |
| Washington | $89K | -9% | 280 |
| Texas | $89K | -9% | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $86K | -12% | 130 |
| Alabama | $85K | -13% | 230 |
| South Dakota | $84K | -14% | 80 |
| Arkansas | $82K | -16% | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $79K | -19% | 280 |
| Arizona | $77K | -21% | 100 |
| Ohio | $76K | -22% | 190 |
| Kansas | $76K | -23% | 140 |
| Wyoming | $74K | -24% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $74K | -24% | 160 |
| Iowa | $73K | -26% | 130 |
| West Virginia | $70K | -28% | 60 |
| New York | $70K | -28% | 500 |
| Kentucky | $67K | -31% | 120 |
| New Hampshire | $64K | -34% | 70 |
| Utah | $60K | -39% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track atmospheric and space scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $72,530 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,530, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $131,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,642/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 28.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a atmospheric and space scientists salary go in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median atmospheric and space scientists salary is worth about $79,095 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do atmospheric and space scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.