Software Developer Salary in Des Moines, IA
Software Developers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $126,460 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $93,548 take-home, or $7,796 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,084
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,841
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,834
- Iowa income tax$4,154
- Take-home pay$93,548
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.80% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,170 | $38.06 | $62,169 | $5,181 |
| 25th percentile | $101,550 | $48.82 | $77,063 | $6,422 |
| Median (50th) | $126,460 | $60.80 | $93,548 | $7,796 |
| 75th percentile | $140,390 | $67.50 | $102,540 | $8,545 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,180 | $80.86 | $120,478 | $10,040 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $126,460 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 software developer's $93,548 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,014 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #22 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 22 | Des Moines, IA | $126,460 | $93,548 | $102,014 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Ames, IA — $129,440
- Davenport, IA — $115,780
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $114,340
- Iowa City, IA — $107,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Des Moines, IA?
The median software developer salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $126,460 a year, or about $60.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,550 and $140,390.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $126,460 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $93,548 a year ($7,796 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,154 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,014 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #22 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 14% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- Information Security Analyst — $123,740
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $109,490
- Computer Network Architect — $108,280
- Data Scientist — $103,030
- Computer Systems Analyst — $102,070
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $98,190
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $89,800
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $62,050
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,450