Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $107,220
- Median hourly wage: $51.55
- Total employment: 150 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Des Moines
Despite recession fears and falling consumer confidence, the job market in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2025 thus far. According to May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, around 177,000 new jobs were added in April, a slight decrease from the 185,000 new jobs added in the month before, but an extension of the country's 52-month streak of job growth. Unemployment rates also held relatively steady between April 2024 and April 2025, coming in at around 4%.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Americans have it easy in the workplace. A December 2024 Payscale report found that nearly half (47%) of business organizations struggle to balance fair pay practices with spend optimization, and 18% plan to reduce pay increases in 2025 as a result.
For context, median weekly earnings across all employees in the U.S. stood at $1,194 in the first quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4.8% from a year prior and exceeds the Consumer Price Index's 2.7% increase in the same time period. However, there's one caveat: Earnings go much further in some places than in others.
In fact, the very definition of a "high-paying" job varies by location, as well as other factors such as industry and benefits. Even a six-figure salary may be considered low-income in places with an unusually high cost of living. Meanwhile, technology, finance, and health care jobs lead in terms of salary, but benefits like remote work can make other lower-paying jobs more desirable.
Regardless, anyone seeking a high-paying job should start by looking at the numbers. Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Des Moines. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $108,040
- Median hourly wage: $51.94
- Total employment: 1,830 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Sales engineers
- Median annual wage: $110,190
- Median hourly wage: $52.98
- Total employment: 120 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $110,350
- Median hourly wage: $53.05
- Total employment: 380 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $111,110
- Median hourly wage: $53.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $111,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 820 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Economists
- Median annual wage: $113,860
- Median hourly wage: $54.74
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $114,970
- Median hourly wage: $55.27
- Total employment: 220 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $117,020
- Median hourly wage: $56.26
- Total employment: 310 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $117,200
- Median hourly wage: $56.35
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $117,380
- Median hourly wage: $56.43
- Total employment: 700 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $118,750
- Median hourly wage: $57.09
- Total employment: 1,730 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $119,060
- Median hourly wage: $57.24
- Total employment: 190 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $119,170
- Median hourly wage: $57.30
- Total employment: 670 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Database administrators
- Median annual wage: $121,990
- Median hourly wage: $58.65
- Total employment: 140 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $123,030
- Median hourly wage: $59.15
- Total employment: 910 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $123,190
- Median hourly wage: $59.23
- Total employment: 490 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $124,630
- Median hourly wage: $59.92
- Total employment: 4,750 people (11.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $125,100
- Median hourly wage: $60.14
- Total employment: 70 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $127,140
- Median hourly wage: $61.13
- Total employment: 120 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $129,140
- Median hourly wage: $62.09
- Total employment: Not available
dokurose // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Actuaries
- Median annual wage: $131,460
- Median hourly wage: $63.20
- Total employment: 520 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $131,820
- Median hourly wage: $63.38
- Total employment: 590 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $131,900
- Median hourly wage: $63.41
- Total employment: 170 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $132,370
- Median hourly wage: $63.64
- Total employment: 1,040 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $133,390
- Median hourly wage: $64.13
- Total employment: 770 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $134,170
- Median hourly wage: $64.50
- Total employment: 970 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $134,310
- Median hourly wage: $64.57
- Total employment: 300 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $134,400
- Median hourly wage: $64.61
- Total employment: 260 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $137,350
- Median hourly wage: $66.04
- Total employment: 570 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $139,520
- Median hourly wage: $67.08
- Total employment: 1,350 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $141,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $143,600
- Median hourly wage: $69.04
- Total employment: 4,090 people (10.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $147,160
- Median hourly wage: $70.75
- Total employment: 1,910 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $157,100
- Median hourly wage: $75.53
- Total employment: 330 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $201,450
- Median hourly wage: $96.85
- Total employment: 220 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $213,620
- Median hourly wage: $102.70
- Total employment: 1,080 people (2.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Median annual wage: $222,700
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $232,960
- Median hourly wage: $112.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
40 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 490 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Pediatricians, general (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 300 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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