Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary
The median pay for a medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $95,200/year ($45.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $152K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $103,817 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $95K 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. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About medical scientists, except epidemiologists
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines tracks closely to the national median, $95K locally vs. $103K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,318/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $82K | $89K |
| Ames | $94K | $106K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $69K | $78K |
| Cedar Rapids | $99K | $111K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level medical scientists, except epidemiologists (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $152K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $137K | +32% | 29,830 |
| New Jersey | $129K | +25% | 6,120 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +24% | 17,100 |
| Connecticut | $117K | +13% | 2,410 |
| Arizona | $117K | +13% | 2,190 |
| Oregon | $111K | +7% | 1,030 |
| Maryland | $106K | +3% | 6,760 |
| Washington | $106K | +2% | 6,150 |
| Alaska | $105K | +1% | 260 |
| Rhode Island | $103K | -0% | 670 |
| North Carolina | $103K | -0% | 5,730 |
| Tennessee | $103K | -1% | 4,020 |
| Missouri | $103K | -1% | 3,650 |
| Montana | $102K | -1% | 320 |
| District of Columbia | $102K | -1% | 670 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | -3% | 210 |
| Delaware | $100K | -3% | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $99K | -4% | 12,630 |
| Nevada | $99K | -5% | 530 |
| Florida | $95K | -8% | 6,490 |
| Maine | $94K | -9% | 100 |
| Virginia | $94K | -9% | 4,560 |
| Georgia | $92K | -11% | 1,910 |
| Minnesota | $90K | -13% | 6,760 |
| New York | $88K | -15% | 7,690 |
| Kansas | $84K | -18% | 1,070 |
| Michigan | $84K | -18% | 2,370 |
| Ohio | $84K | -19% | 4,840 |
| Iowa | $84K | -19% | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $83K | -20% | 380 |
| Utah | $83K | -20% | 1,560 |
| West Virginia | $83K | -20% | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $83K | -20% | 2,970 |
| Illinois | $82K | -20% | 4,700 |
| Indiana | $81K | -22% | 2,010 |
| Nebraska | $81K | -22% | 620 |
| South Dakota | $81K | -22% | 140 |
| Texas | $80K | -22% | 11,920 |
| Kentucky | $78K | -25% | 670 |
| Oklahoma | $76K | -26% | 920 |
| Arkansas | $73K | -30% | 230 |
| Alabama | $68K | -34% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $67K | -35% | 340 |
| Vermont | $67K | -36% | 110 |
| North Dakota | $64K | -38% | 250 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -48% | 440 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track medical scientists, except epidemiologists 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
Can a medical scientists, except epidemiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical scientists, except epidemiologists typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,524/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical scientists, except epidemiologist a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $95K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do medical scientists, except epidemiologists make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $95,200 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,740, and experienced medical scientists, except epidemiologists can clear $151,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,863/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 22.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a medical scientists, except epidemiologists 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 medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary is worth about $103,817 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical scientists, except epidemiologists 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.