Industrial Engineer Salary in Des Moines, IA
Industrial Engineers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $98,270 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,880 take-home, or $6,240 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial engineer salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,789
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,093
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,425
- Iowa income tax$3,082
- Take-home pay$74,880
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.80% state
Industrial Engineer pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,110 | $35.63 | $58,802 | $4,900 |
| 25th percentile | $80,100 | $38.51 | $62,788 | $5,232 |
| Median (50th) | $98,270 | $47.25 | $74,880 | $6,240 |
| 75th percentile | $110,510 | $53.13 | $83,026 | $6,919 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,040 | $64.44 | $98,441 | $8,203 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $98,270 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 industrial engineer's $74,880 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,657 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Industrial Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Des Moines, IA than nationally (location quotient 0.55), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for industrial engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #39 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaumont, TX | $123,660 | $95,788 | $106,376 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $129,500 | $96,281 | $106,059 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $127,340 | $94,869 | $102,454 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $132,290 | $96,535 | $101,035 |
| 5 | Fort Collins, CO | $131,870 | $96,305 | $95,231 |
| 6 | Peoria, IL | $117,180 | $85,611 | $93,839 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $131,210 | $100,948 | $90,835 |
| 8 | Decatur, AL | $106,230 | $78,516 | $90,029 |
| 39 | Des Moines, IA | $98,270 | $74,880 | $81,657 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Industrial Engineer salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Davenport, IA — $104,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial engineer make in Des Moines, IA?
The median industrial engineer salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $98,270 a year, or about $47.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,100 and $110,510.
What is a industrial engineer’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $98,270 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $74,880 a year ($6,240 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,082 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a industrial engineer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $102,440. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,657 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #39 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial engineer 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) — 17% of a median industrial engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- Civil Engineer — $97,330