Ground Picture // Shutterstock
1 / 27#27. Social science research assistants
- Median annual wage: Not available
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying science jobs for people in Des Moines
For decades, the United States has funneled more money into research and development than any other country in the world. In 2023, this accounted for 37% of the world's scientific funding, creating a promising outlook for those pursuing a science-based career. In February 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected an impressive 12.8% growth in science-related jobs by 2033.
However, that may have been overly optimistic: The Trump administration made significant cuts to staffing and grant funding in early 2025, which have created an enormous amount of job uncertainty in the sciences. And 2026 may not be any better, as the White House-proposed budget aims to cut funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation by 40% and 55%, respectively.
These cuts have shut down numerous research programs, creating more competition for the scientific jobs that do remain. That's a big part of the reason that new openings are drying up—in the first part of 2025, job postings were down 18%. Some researchers are even leaving the U.S., drawn to promises of academic freedom in places like Canada, Australia, and Europe.
The situation may seem dire, but it's important to note that recent events don't mean the end of scientific careers in the U.S. Many good jobs still exist, both in the public and private sectors. Of course, jobs in the sciences do require advanced education. While physicists, biochemists, and other medical scientists need to have a doctorate, other popular career fields don't require quite as much. An associate's degree is suitable for many technician roles. Other sectors, like food science, meteorology, environmental science, geology, and zoology, look for bachelor's degrees, and epidemiologists typically need a master's degree.
Think you have what it takes for a challenging and lucrative career in the sciences? Stacker used BLS data to find the highest-paying science 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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2 / 27#26. Agricultural technicians
- Median annual wage: $39,340
- Median hourly wage: $18.92
- Total employment: 530 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
3 / 27#25. Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $44,040
- Median hourly wage: $21.18
- Total employment: 220 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ART STOCK CREATIVE // Shutterstock
4 / 27#24. Food science technicians
- Median annual wage: $45,760
- Median hourly wage: $22.00
- Total employment: 160 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
5 / 27#23. Chemical technicians
- Median annual wage: $49,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.97
- Total employment: 70 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 27#22. Biological technicians
- Median annual wage: $50,640
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MAYA LAB // Shutterstock
7 / 27#21. Forest and conservation technicians
- Median annual wage: $51,430
- Median hourly wage: $24.72
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
8 / 27#20. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $56,070
- Median hourly wage: $26.96
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
photodiem // Shutterstock
9 / 27#19. Environmental science and protection technicians, including health
- Median annual wage: $61,010
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
science photo // Shutterstock
10 / 27#18. Food scientists and technologists
- Median annual wage: $63,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.51
- Total employment: 170 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 27#17. Conservation scientists
- Median annual wage: $63,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.74
- Total employment: 110 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock
12 / 27#16. Forensic science technicians
- Median annual wage: $70,450
- Median hourly wage: $33.87
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 27#15. Atmospheric and space scientists
- Median annual wage: $72,530
- Median hourly wage: $34.87
- Total employment: Not available
VH-studio // Shutterstock
14 / 27#14. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $76,060
- Median hourly wage: $36.57
- Total employment: 110 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Patrizio Martorana // Shutterstock
15 / 27#13. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
- Median annual wage: $76,220
- Median hourly wage: $36.65
- Total employment: 230 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 27#12. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $78,840
- Median hourly wage: $37.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
17 / 27#11. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $79,250
- Median hourly wage: $38.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
18 / 27#10. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $81,330
- Median hourly wage: $39.10
- Total employment: 80 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
19 / 27#9. Social scientists and related workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $82,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.82
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksandar Karanov // Shutterstock
20 / 27#8. Occupational health and safety specialists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $82,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.82
- Total employment: 270 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 27#7. Chemists
- Median annual wage: $83,570
- Median hourly wage: $40.18
- Total employment: 150 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 27#6. Soil and plant scientists
- Median annual wage: $86,120
- Median hourly wage: $41.41
- Total employment: 240 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 27#5. Biological scientists, all other
- Median annual wage: $91,710
- Median hourly wage: $44.09
- Total employment: 140 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 27#4. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $95,280
- Median hourly wage: $45.81
- Total employment: 120 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
25 / 27#3. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $101,880
- Median hourly wage: $48.98
- Total employment: 270 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Petekub // Shutterstock
26 / 27#2. 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)
indukas // Shutterstock
27 / 27#1. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $129,140
- Median hourly wage: $62.09
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 291 metros.
