Surgical Technologist.
Des Moines.
$54,000
median salary, 14% below the national average
$44,000 to $66,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Des Moines is 14% cheaper than the national average. For Surgical Technologists, that shakes out to a median of $54,000, with the full range spanning $44,000 to $66,000. Surgical specialty drives compensation, with cardiovascular, neuro, and robotic surgery techs earning the most. Know the range before you walk in. 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 Surgical Technologist 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 $62,250 for Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055) in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan area, based on 230 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$51,640
25th percentile
$60,760
Median
$62,250
75th percentile
$62,730
90th percentile
$73,630
Workers surveyed
230
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055) rather than Surgical Technologist 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 29-2055Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $49,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$35,000
to $43,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$46,000
to $57,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$59,000
to $70,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$68,000
to $84,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $14,000 to the total package.
Base
$54,000
Equity
$8,000
Bonus
$5,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $68,000
How Des Moines compares.
Des Moines, IA
$54,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$63,000
Des Moines is $9,000 below
Surgical Technologist salary by city.
Salary by role in Des Moines.
What you should know.
The Surgical Technologist 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. Surgical specialty drives compensation, with cardiovascular, neuro, and robotic surgery techs earning the most. Certification through NBSTSA is increasingly required and commands higher pay. Level I trauma centers and academic medical centers pay above community hospitals, and call pay for after-hours coverage adds meaningful income.
New surgical techs start at $45,000 to $50,000 with certification. Experienced techs in specialty ORs earn $58,000 to $68,000 after five years. Lead surgical techs or first assistants can reach $70,000 to $82,000, with surgical first assist certification opening the highest pay tier. 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. Surgical techs receive call pay of $3 to $6 per hour when on standby, plus overtime for emergency cases. Benefits include health insurance, scrub allowances, and certification renewal reimbursement. Some hospitals offer retention bonuses in tight labor markets. 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 $54,000, 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 Surgical Technologists in Des Moines runs from $44,000 to $66,000. 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 Electrician in Des Moines earns $55,000 (2% more)
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Common questions.
Surgical Technologist salary in other cities.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Surgical Technologist Salary in Des Moines, IA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/surgical-technologist/des-moines
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