Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a social scientists and related workers, all other in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $91,920/year ($44.19/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $100,240 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 22.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $92K 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 social scientists and related workers, all others
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Social scientists and related workers, all other pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines tracks closely to the national median, $92K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,318/month, 23.2% 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 social scientists and related workers, all others in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $103K | $99K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $105K | $101K |
| Kansas City | $90K | $97K |
| St. Louis | $88K | $93K |
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 social scientists and related workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $141K | +39% | 3,380 |
| Maryland | $132K | +30% | 2,600 |
| District of Columbia | $128K | +27% | 2,480 |
| Massachusetts | $106K | +4% | 820 |
| Colorado | $105K | +4% | 790 |
| New York | $105K | +4% | 3,410 |
| Nebraska | $104K | +3% | 120 |
| Minnesota | $103K | +2% | 1,000 |
| Washington | $103K | +2% | 1,160 |
| Texas | $102K | +1% | 2,260 |
| New Jersey | $101K | +0% | 350 |
| Arizona | $99K | -2% | 600 |
| Illinois | $99K | -2% | 730 |
| Ohio | $99K | -2% | 1,520 |
| California | $98K | -3% | 2,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | -3% | 620 |
| Oregon | $96K | -5% | 350 |
| Nevada | $96K | -5% | 180 |
| Alabama | $95K | -6% | 320 |
| West Virginia | $95K | -7% | 190 |
| Hawaii | $93K | -8% | 430 |
| Delaware | $92K | -9% | 100 |
| Iowa | $92K | -9% | 150 |
| Utah | $92K | -9% | 180 |
| Georgia | $91K | -10% | 1,510 |
| New Mexico | $91K | -10% | 170 |
| Louisiana | $91K | -10% | 560 |
| Rhode Island | $90K | -11% | 110 |
| Indiana | $89K | -12% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $89K | -12% | 260 |
| Wyoming | $89K | -12% | 40 |
| Idaho | $89K | -12% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $89K | -12% | 220 |
| New Hampshire | $87K | -14% | 130 |
| South Dakota | $86K | -15% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $86K | -15% | 170 |
| Kansas | $85K | -16% | 310 |
| Michigan | $84K | -17% | 660 |
| South Carolina | $84K | -17% | 300 |
| Florida | $83K | -17% | 1,740 |
| Montana | $82K | -19% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $81K | -19% | 1,770 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -20% | 320 |
| Missouri | $81K | -20% | 330 |
| Vermont | $79K | -21% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -22% | 350 |
| North Dakota | $76K | -24% | 120 |
| Arkansas | $76K | -24% | 250 |
| Maine | $74K | -27% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track social scientists and related workers, all other 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 social scientists and related workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 23.2% 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 social scientists and related workers, all others in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social scientists and related workers, all others typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,798/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social scientists and related workers, all other a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $92K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for social scientists and related workers, all others?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — below the national median.
How much do social scientists and related workers, all others make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $91,920 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,300, and experienced social scientists and related workers, all others can clear $121,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,687/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 23.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a social scientists and related workers, all other 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 social scientists and related workers, all other salary is worth about $100,240 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social scientists and related workers, all others 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.