Cost Estimator Salary in Des Moines, IA
Cost Estimators in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $78,500 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,724 take-home, or $5,144 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,440
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,867
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,138
- Iowa income tax$2,331
- Take-home pay$61,724
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.80% state
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,940 | $23.53 | $40,295 | $3,358 |
| 25th percentile | $59,490 | $28.60 | $48,371 | $4,031 |
| Median (50th) | $78,500 | $37.74 | $61,724 | $5,144 |
| 75th percentile | $94,740 | $45.55 | $72,531 | $6,044 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,400 | $58.37 | $90,274 | $7,523 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,500 buys in Des Moines, IA
Prices in Des Moines, IA are 8.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cost estimator's $61,724 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,310 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cost Estimator jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #10 of 90 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $84,710 | $66,268 | $72,999 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $102,640 | $76,125 | $70,313 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $81,170 | $63,884 | $68,992 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $76,130 | $62,387 | $68,837 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $81,300 | $66,025 | $68,534 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $76,660 | $62,760 | $68,085 |
| 7 | Dayton, OH | $79,020 | $63,030 | $67,998 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $92,570 | $69,544 | $67,833 |
| 10 | Des Moines, IA | $78,500 | $61,724 | $67,310 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 90 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Des Moines, IA?
The median cost estimator salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $78,500 a year, or about $37.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,490 and $94,740.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $78,500 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $61,724 a year ($5,144 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,331 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,310 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #10 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Des Moines, IA is $1,092 a month ($1,302 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- Loan Officer — $101,190
- Project Management Specialist — $101,150
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $98,490
- Personal Financial Advisor — $94,270
- Management Analyst — $90,730
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $86,540
- Financial Examiner — $85,450
- Compliance Officer — $84,590
- Financial Specialists, All Other — $80,340
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,290
- Insurance Underwriter — $79,230
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists — $77,990