CTO, AI Startup.
Des Moines.
$192,000
median salary, 17% below the national average
$150,000 to $250,000. Last updated August 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a CTO, AI Startup offer in Des Moines, IA, here is the reality: $150,000 to $250,000, with $192,000 as the midpoint. 17% below the national average. Base salary is influenced by funding stage, company size, and the CTO's equity stake. 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 CTO, AI Startup 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 $290,870 for Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area, based on 1,230 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$96,550
25th percentile
$167,990
Median
$290,870
75th percentile
$345,940
90th percentile
$390,260
Workers surveyed
1,230
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $192,000 is 34% lower than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Chief Executives covers a different population than the CTO, AI Startup title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Chief Executives (SOC 11-1011) rather than CTO, AI Startup 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 11-1011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $173,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$125,000
to $154,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$163,000
to $202,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$211,000
to $250,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$240,000
to $298,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $54,000 to the total package.
Base
$192,000
Equity
$31,000
Bonus
$19,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $246,000
How Des Moines compares.
Des Moines, IA
$192,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$230,000
Des Moines is $38,000 below
CTO, AI Startup salary by city.
Salary by role in Des Moines.
What you should know.
Here is what the CTO, AI Startup 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. Base salary is influenced by funding stage, company size, and the CTO's equity stake. Early-stage CTOs may accept lower base salary in exchange for larger equity. Series B+ CTOs with proven track records command both high base salaries and meaningful equity. Technical depth in AI architecture and ability to recruit top talent are the primary differentiators.
Pre-seed and seed CTOs earn $120,000 to $180,000 base with significant equity. Series A CTOs earn $180,000 to $230,000. Series B+ CTOs reach $230,000 to $320,000 base. Successful exits can generate life-changing wealth through equity. Some transition to CEO roles or become serial technical cofounders. 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 is the most significant component, often representing 1% to 5% of the company at founding, decreasing with later-stage hiring. At funded startups, this can be worth $500,000 to several million dollars annually on paper. Base salary increases substantially after Series B as the company can afford market rates. 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 $192,000, 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 CTO, AI Startups in Des Moines runs from $150,000 to $250,000. 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 Protein Structure Specialist in Des Moines earns $191,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Des Moines is CTO at $263,000
- See all ai executive roles tracked in Orbyt Intelligence
Common questions.
CTO, AI Startup salary in other cities.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"CTO, AI Startup Salary in Des Moines, IA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/cto-ai-startup/des-moines
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