AI Product Manager.
Des Moines.
$140,000
median salary, 18% below the national average
$107,000 to $182,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
AI Product Manager pay in Des Moines ranges from $107,000 to $182,000 in 2026. The median is $140,000, 18% below the national average. Des Moines is a major insurance and financial services hub, home to Principal Financial, EMC Insurance, and a growing fintech community. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. 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 Product Manager 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 $135,140 for Marketing Managers (SOC 11-2021) in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area, based on 950 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$81,220
25th percentile
$108,000
Median
$135,140
75th percentile
$169,640
90th percentile
$214,220
Workers surveyed
950
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Marketing Managers (SOC 11-2021) rather than AI Product Manager specifically. The Des Moinesrange 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 11-2021Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $126,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$91,000
to $112,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$119,000
to $147,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$154,000
to $182,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$175,000
to $217,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $58,000 to the total package.
Base
$140,000
Equity
$35,000
Bonus
$15,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $198,000
AI Product Manager salary by company.
Total compensation estimates include base, equity, bonus, and signing. Ranges reflect mid to senior level. Derived from public H-1B LCA filings (DOL).
How Des Moines compares.
Des Moines, IA
$140,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$170,000
Des Moines is $30,000 below
AI Product Manager salary by city.
Salary by role in Des Moines.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for AI Product Manager roles in Des Moines, here is what you are walking into. 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. Technical depth in ML concepts, experience shipping AI powered products, and ability to bridge research teams with business stakeholders are the primary drivers. PMs who understand model evaluation, data quality requirements, and AI safety considerations earn more. Prior experience as an ML engineer or data scientist is highly valued and commands a premium.
Associate AI PMs start at $115,000 to $140,000, advancing to AI PM at $150,000 to $195,000 in two to three years. Senior AI PMs earn $195,000 to $250,000. Directors of AI Product reach $250,000 to $350,000, and VPs of AI Product at large companies can exceed $400,000 in total compensation. 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. Equity at AI companies adds $30,000 to $120,000+ annually. Bonuses of 15 to 25% tied to product metrics and revenue impact are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $60,000 are common. Benefits often include AI conference attendance, executive education programs, and cross functional rotation opportunities. 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 $140,000, 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 Product Managers in Des Moines runs from $107,000 to $182,000. 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 AI Ethics Officer in Des Moines earns $146,000 (4% more)
- The highest-paying role in Des Moines is CTO at $263,000
- See all ai product roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
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