AI Data Scientist.
Des Moines.
$95,000
median salary, 16% below the national average
$66,000 to $137,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating an AI Data Scientist offer in Des Moines, IA, here is the reality: $66,000 to $137,000, with $95,000 as the midpoint. 16% below the national average. AI data scientists who combine statistical modeling with production ML deployment earn the highest salaries. Do not accept the first number. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for AI Data Scientist in Des Moines, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $103,030 for Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area, based on 1,240 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$65,480
25th percentile
$80,360
Median
$103,030
75th percentile
$133,460
90th percentile
$150,190
Workers surveyed
1,240
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) rather than AI Data Scientist specifically. The Des Moines range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-2051Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $85,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$62,000
to $76,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$81,000
to $100,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$105,000
to $124,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$119,000
to $147,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $46,000 to the total package.
Base
$95,000
Equity
$28,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$6,000
Estimated total: $141,000
How Des Moines compares.
Des Moines, IA
$95,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$113,000
Des Moines is $18,000 below
AI Data Scientist salary by city.
Salary by role in Des Moines.
What you should know.
Here is what the AI Data Scientist market actually looks like in Des Moines. Des Moines is a major insurance and financial services hub, home to Principal Financial, EMC Insurance, and a growing fintech community. The metro's extremely low cost of living and strong job market make it one of the best value cities for finance professionals. Tech employment is growing as insurtech companies expand. AI data scientists who combine statistical modeling with production ML deployment earn the highest salaries. Industry sector matters significantly, with finance and healthcare paying 15 to 25% above retail or media. Proficiency in both Python and cloud ML platforms like SageMaker or Vertex AI is increasingly expected and adds 10 to 15% to offers.
Junior AI data scientists earn $115,000 to $135,000 with a master's degree. Mid-level scientists with 3 to 5 years reach $152,000 to $198,000. Senior data scientists earn $200,000 to $260,000, while principal scientists and directors of data science can command $280,000 to $380,000. In Des Moines, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 14% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation at tech companies includes RSUs worth 15 to 30% of base salary and annual bonuses of 10 to 20%. Financial services firms substitute higher cash bonuses of 25 to 50% in lieu of equity, making total compensation comparable. And on the tax side: iowa has a flat 3.8% state income tax. Des Moines has no city income tax. The low tax rate and affordable housing create strong purchasing power. When someone quotes you $95,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Benchmark against national insurance industry pay scales. Des Moines insurance employers must compete with remote offers from larger metros and will often match. The range for AI Data Scientists in Des Moines runs from $66,000 to $137,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- An Office Manager in Des Moines earns $94,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Des Moines is CTO at $263,000
- See all ai research roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
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Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"AI Data Scientist Salary in Des Moines, IA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/ai-data-scientist/des-moines
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