Mid-level Data Scientist salary in Des Moines, IA

Based on 30 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Johnston, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Ankeny, Waukee.

Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist

Median salary$89,600
Middle 50%$86k–$98k
vs. all levels here−11%comparison median $100,500
Filings30FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $83,372 and $109,941.
PercentileSalary
10th$85,218
25th$86,000
50th (median)$89,600
75th$98,000
90th$106,061

Salary by year

Median salary

$70k $85k $100k FY2023: median $94,930 (12 filings) FY2025: median $89,600 (15 filings) FY2026: median $86,000 (15 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 6 filings FY20 FY2021: 5 filings FY21 FY2022: 7 filings FY22 FY2023: 12 filings FY23 FY2024: 6 filings FY24 FY2025: 15 filings FY25 FY2026: 15 filings FY26 15
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–––6
FY2021–––5
FY2022–––7
FY2023$94,930$86,029$104,37512
FY2024–––6
FY2025$89,600$88,000$102,94315
FY2026$86,000$85,234$96,50015

Cost of living

Des Moines's median mid-level Data Scientist salary of $89,600 is worth about $97,700 at national average prices.

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

Compared with all workers here

All Data Scientists in the Des Moines, IA area earned a median of $103,030 in May 2025 (1,240 employed). The H-1B median here is $89,600, 13% lower.

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
Colaberrytoo few3
Ameriteam Servicestoo few2
AwoiSolutionstoo few2

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $83,105 16
Mid-level · Level II $89,600 30
Senior · Level III $115,000 15
Expert · Level IV $123,943 16

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$67,226$83,10516
Mid-level · Level II$85,218$89,60030
Senior · Level III$103,189$115,00015
Expert · Level IV$121,181$123,94316

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.