Software Engineer Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (2026)
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
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Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Software Engineer Wage Distribution
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HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index
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Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix
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Software Engineer in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)
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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.
- 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
Software Engineer in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA: Market Snapshot
Software Engineer roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA report a median annual wage of $126,460, 7.0% below the national median of $135,980. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $79,170 to $168,180, and HUD’s $1,145 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 10.9% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.98 per hour.
Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Software Engineer
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs this market |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $213,110 | +68.5% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,640 | +47.6% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $167,280 | +32.3% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $166,830 | +31.9% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $166,090 | +31.3% |
| Boulder, CO | $164,560 | +30.1% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,270 | +29.1% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $162,650 | +28.6% |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $162,090 | +28.2% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,920 | +27.2% |
Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Median 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, 377 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
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Related Technology Roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
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Other Metros for Software Engineer
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Software Engineer median pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $126,460 a year ($60.80/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD. Official 2026 economic data for Software Engineer 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
The median annual wage is $126,460 ($60.80 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $79,170 and $168,180. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).
On the median wage of $126,460, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $93,548 a year ($7,796 a month) after $32,912 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 26.03%, using 2026 tax rules.