Expert Software Engineer salary in Des Moines, IA
Based on 93 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, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, Carlisle.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $128,960 |
| 25th | $132,600 |
| 50th (median) | $138,507 |
| 75th | $145,600 |
| 90th | $159,830 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $105,000 | $103,293 | $110,000 | 60 |
| FY2021 | $110,448 | $108,514 | $124,551 | 55 |
| FY2022 | $113,651 | $110,448 | $122,500 | 63 |
| FY2023 | $120,000 | $113,651 | $130,000 | 50 |
| FY2024 | $128,960 | $120,078 | $135,888 | 33 |
| FY2025 | $138,507 | $128,960 | $141,850 | 58 |
| FY2026 | $139,360 | $138,507 | $155,999 | 35 |
Cost of living
Des Moines's median expert Software Engineer salary of $138,507 is worth about $151,000 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 $138,507, 10% 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
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Athene Annuity and Life Company | $140,000 | 12 |
| Corteva Agriscience | too few | 9 |
| Wellmark | too few | 9 |
| Deere & Company | too few | 6 |
| Wells Fargo | too few | 3 |
| Advanced Technologies Group | too few | 3 |
| Nationwide Insurance | too few | 3 |
| Oracle | too few | 2 |
| Adin Technologies | too few | 2 |
| Casey's Retail Company | 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.