Data Architect (AI/ML).
Des Moines.
$122,000
median salary, 10% below the national average
$93,000 to $157,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Data Architect (AI/ML) in Des Moines earns a median of $122,000 in 2026. That is 10% below the national average. The range runs from $93,000 to $157,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Data architects specializing in AI and ML systems command premium pay for designing scalable data platforms that support model training and serving. 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 Data Architect (AI/ML) 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 $120,030 for Database Architects (SOC 15-1243) in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area, based on 140 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$76,320
25th percentile
$98,330
Median
$120,030
75th percentile
$143,160
90th percentile
$153,090
Workers surveyed
140
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Database Architects (SOC 15-1243) rather than Data Architect (AI/ML) 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 15-1243Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $110,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$79,000
to $98,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$104,000
to $128,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$134,000
to $159,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$153,000
to $189,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $32,000 to the total package.
Base
$122,000
Equity
$18,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $154,000
How Des Moines compares.
Des Moines, IA
$122,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$136,000
Des Moines is $14,000 below
Data Architect (AI/ML) salary by city.
Salary by role in Des Moines.
What you should know.
Here is what the Data Architect (AI/ML) 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. Data architects specializing in AI and ML systems command premium pay for designing scalable data platforms that support model training and serving. Experience architecting lakehouse solutions and real-time feature stores is highly valued. Enterprise experience at companies with complex data governance requirements adds 15 to 25% to compensation.
Junior data architects earn $135,000 to $160,000. Architects with 5 to 8 years of experience designing ML data systems reach $178,000 to $232,000. Principal architects earn $240,000 to $320,000, while chief data architects and VP-level roles can command $350,000 to $450,000. 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. Senior data architects receive equity packages of 20 to 35% of base salary at tech companies. Consulting data architects can earn $200 to $350 per hour as independent contractors. Annual bonuses range from 15 to 25%, with some firms offering architecture patent bonuses. 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 $122,000, 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 Data Architect (AI/ML)s in Des Moines runs from $93,000 to $157,000. 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
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Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Data Architect (AI/ML) Salary in Des Moines, IA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/data-architect-ai-ml/des-moines
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