SOC 11-9121

Natural Sciences Managers Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + IA
COL Index: 103.9 (+3.9% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 70.1% Realized
$83,217 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $118,740 $57.09/hr
Effective Tax Drag 23.92% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 22% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$28,399 $1,092.26/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $57.09 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$7,124/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$1,567/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$15,725
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$7,362
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,722
Iowa Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$3,590
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$83,217 ($3,200.65 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Natural Sciences Managers Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $118,740
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $75.2k 25th $99.4k Median: $118,740 50th (Median) $119k 75th $177k 90th $207k You: $118,740
10th (Entry) $75,230 $36.17/hr
25th (Junior) $99,420 $47.80/hr
50th (Median) $118,740 $57.09/hr
75th (Senior) $176,820 $85.01/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $206,950 $99.50/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Natural Sciences Managers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
1
Research ScientistBachelor's degree (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$56,594$27.21/hr · 2-5 Years
2
Senior ScientistDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities
$84,784$40.76/hr · 5-9 Years
3
Natural Sciences ManagerFull professional competence; leads projects or a small team
$118,726$57.08/hr · 9-14 Years
4
Director of ResearchOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$157,283$75.62/hr · 14-20 Years
5
VP of R&D / Chief ScientistExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$224,954$108.15/hr · 20+ Years
Scaled to the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA medianView National Natural Sciences Managers Salary Data
Adjacent Career Pivots & National Pay Differences
Project Management Specialists-$64,900/yr
National median: $102,320
Skill overlap: 77%View Salary
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers-$57,850/yr
National median: $109,370
Skill overlap: 77%
Biological Technicians-$109,710/yr
National median: $57,510
Skill overlap: 63%
Data Scientists-$46,990/yr
National median: $120,230
Skill overlap: 62%
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
17% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,145/month Requires minimum annual gross of $45,800
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,360/month Requires minimum annual gross of $54,400
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.98/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $20.03/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$118,740-$28,399$83,217$3,200.65
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$141,004-$35,716$96,827$3,724.13
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$163,268-$43,237$110,234$4,239.78
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$185,531-$50,694$123,705$4,757.88
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$207,795-$56,905$138,422$5,323.92
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

Natural Sciences Managers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and Iowa tax codes.

Market Baseline
$118,740/yr
$57.09/hr · SOC 11-9121
Statutory Tax Drag
23.92% Effective
-$28,399 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
17% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$5,790/mo
Post-$1,145/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 11-9121
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

Natural Sciences Managers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA: Market Snapshot

Natural Sciences Managers roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA report a median annual wage of $118,740, 29.0% below the national median of $167,220. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $75,230 to $206,950, and HUD’s $1,145 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 11.6% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.98 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Natural Sciences Managers

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$291,000+145.1%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$263,810+122.2%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$225,230+89.7%
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR$220,120+85.4%
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$217,480+83.2%
Kennewick-Richland, WA$215,860+81.8%
Worcester, MA$212,600+79.0%
Midland, MI$212,130+78.7%
New Haven, CT$210,670+77.4%
Boulder, CO$210,340+77.1%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$290,870$139.84/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$164,840$79.25/hr
Financial Manager$154,140$74.11/hr
Compensation and Benefits Managers$150,850$72.52/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$148,330$71.31/hr
Human Resources Managers$138,140$66.41/hr
Sales Managers$136,570$65.66/hr
Marketing Managers$135,140$64.97/hr
Physician Assistant$133,830$64.34/hr
Nurse Practitioner$132,230$63.57/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 210 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

Natural Sciences Managers Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Overview

Natural Sciences Managers median pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $118,740 a year ($57.09/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage. Official 2026 economic data for Natural Sciences Managers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for a Natural Sciences Managers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?

The median annual wage is $118,740 ($57.09 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $75,230 and $206,950. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Natural Sciences Managers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA after taxes?

On the median wage of $118,740, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $88,503 a year ($7,375 a month) after $30,237 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 25.46%, using 2026 tax rules.