Senior QA Engineer salary in Des Moines, IA
Based on 20 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes West Des Moines, Johnston, Ankeny, Waukee, Urbandale.
Also listed as: Software Tester, Test Automation Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $94,697 |
| 25th | $94,786 |
| 50th (median) | $94,786 |
| 75th | $94,840 |
| 90th | $106,902 |
Cost of living
Des Moines's median senior QA Engineer salary of $94,786 is worth about $103,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Des Moines = 91.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the Des Moines, IA area earned a median of $98,190 in May 2025 (440 employed). The H-1B median here is $94,786, 3% 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
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | too few | 7 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 2 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $76,482 | 66 |
| Senior · Level III | $94,786 | 20 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $76,482 | $76,482 | 66 |
| Senior · Level III | $94,786 | $94,786 | 20 |
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.