Executive Assistant.
Des Moines.
$62,000
median salary, 16% below the national average
$51,000 to $76,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating an Executive Assistant offer in Des Moines, IA, here is the reality: $51,000 to $76,000, with $62,000 as the midpoint. 16% below the national average. The seniority of the executive supported is the dominant pay factor. 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 Executive Assistant 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 $64,990 for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants (SOC 43-6011) in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area, based on 1,740 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$49,390
25th percentile
$54,980
Median
$64,990
75th percentile
$77,180
90th percentile
$89,120
Workers surveyed
1,740
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants (SOC 43-6011) rather than Executive Assistant 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 43-6011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $56,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$40,000
to $50,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$53,000
to $65,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$68,000
to $81,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$78,000
to $96,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $13,000 to the total package.
Base
$62,000
Equity
$7,000
Bonus
$5,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $75,000
How Des Moines compares.
Des Moines, IA
$62,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$74,000
Des Moines is $12,000 below
Executive Assistant salary by city.
Salary by role in Des Moines.
What you should know.
The Executive Assistant landscape in Des Moines is not what most salary sites will tell you. 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. The seniority of the executive supported is the dominant pay factor. EAs to C-suite leaders earn 25 to 40% more than those supporting VPs or directors. Gatekeeping complexity, international travel coordination, and board-level document preparation all push salaries to the higher end of the range.
Junior EAs start at $48,000 to $58,000 supporting directors or VPs. EAs to SVPs and C-suite earn $68,000 to $95,000. Senior EAs and chiefs of staff reach $90,000 to $130,000. Some transition into operations management or business partner roles exceeding $120,000. 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. Annual bonuses of 5 to 15% are common, often discretionary and based on executive satisfaction. EAs at tech companies frequently receive equity grants worth $5,000 to $25,000 annually. Some receive the same perks as executives, including travel upgrades. 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 $62,000, 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 Executive Assistants in Des Moines runs from $51,000 to $76,000. 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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- A Radiologic Technologist in Des Moines earns $64,000 (3% more)
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Common questions.
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Other salaries in Des Moines.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Executive Assistant Salary in Des Moines, IA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/executive-assistant/des-moines
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