Expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Des Moines, IA

Based on 36 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes West Des Moines, Waukee, Johnston, Urbandale, Ankeny.

Median salary$128,149
Middle 50%$124.1k–$132.4k
vs. all levels here+25%comparison median $102,294
Filings36FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $124,051 and $178,750.
PercentileSalary
10th$124,051
25th$124,051
50th (median)$128,149
75th$132,418
90th$145,392

Salary by year

Median salary

$80k $115k $150k FY2020: median $98,151 (14 filings) FY2021: median $96,299 (12 filings) FY2022: median $119,538 (21 filings) FY2023: median $135,000 (20 filings) FY2024: median $130,770 (19 filings) FY2025: median $128,149 (24 filings) FY2026: median $128,149 (12 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 14 filings FY20 FY2021: 12 filings FY21 FY2022: 21 filings FY22 FY2023: 20 filings FY23 FY2024: 19 filings FY24 FY2025: 24 filings FY25 FY2026: 12 filings FY26 24
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$98,151$96,637$105,00014
FY2021$96,299$89,149$110,32512
FY2022$119,538$101,837$135,00021
FY2023$135,000$122,900$145,35820
FY2024$130,770$130,770$150,00019
FY2025$128,149$124,051$140,00024
FY2026$128,149$128,149$128,14912

Cost of living

Des Moines's median expert Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $128,149 is worth about $139,700 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Des Moines = 91.7).

Compared with all workers here

All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Des Moines, IA area earned a median of $109,490 in May 2025 (1,770 employed). The H-1B median here is $128,149, 17% higher.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Cognizant$128,14918
Accenturetoo few2
Velera Solutionstoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I too few 2
Mid-level · Level II $84,115 59
Senior · Level III $106,122 74
Expert · Level IV $128,149 36

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Mid-level · Level II$84,115$84,11559
Senior · Level III$106,122$106,12274
Expert · Level IV$124,051$128,14936

The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.