Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Des Moines, IA
Based on 102 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes West Des Moines, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, Carlisle.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,976 |
| 25th | $80,000 |
| 50th (median) | $81,994 |
| 75th | $84,000 |
| 90th | $93,224 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $70,000 | $69,243 | $75,000 | 29 |
| FY2021 | $92,622 | $74,000 | $92,622 | 62 |
| FY2022 | $71,843 | $71,843 | $77,449 | 27 |
| FY2023 | $75,000 | $71,365 | $84,287 | 23 |
| FY2024 | $75,000 | $70,000 | $80,075 | 56 |
| FY2025 | $80,000 | $80,000 | $84,094 | 73 |
| FY2026 | $82,000 | $81,994 | $83,000 | 29 |
Cost of living
Des Moines's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $81,994 is worth about $89,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Des Moines = 91.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Des Moines, IA area earned a median of $126,460 in May 2025 (4,240 employed). The H-1B median here is $81,994, 35% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Siri Consultancy Services | $80,000 | 24 |
| Wellmark | too few | 9 |
| Antra | too few | 7 |
| Quality Consulting | too few | 7 |
| Kineticloud | too few | 4 |
| Skywalk Global | too few | 4 |
| Beaconfire Staffing Solutions | too few | 2 |
| Dee Zee | too few | 2 |
| DSI Distributing | too few | 2 |
| Launch It | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $81,994 | 102 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,838 | 269 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,000 | 78 |
| Expert · Level IV | $138,507 | 93 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $79,976 | $81,994 | 102 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,838 | $100,838 | 269 |
| Senior · Level III | $119,662 | $120,000 | 78 |
| Expert · Level IV | $138,507 | $138,507 | 93 |
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.