Cost of hiring in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, with about 12,070 people1. Medians run from $37,910 a year for virtual receptionists to $101,150 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Des Moines-West Des Moines
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Support Specialist | +9.2% | 12,070 | |
| Office Manager | +3.2% | 3,100 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +3.0% | 460 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +0.6% | 300 | |
| HR Assistant | +0.4% | 310 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -0.1% | 3,110 | |
| Bookkeeper | -0.1% | 3,670 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -0.3% | 1,260 | |
| Project Coordinator | -1.1% | 2,640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -2.8% | 3,440 | |
| Paralegal | -4.5% | 1,190 | |
| Accountant | -5.2% | 4,850 | |
| Recruiter | -5.7% | 2,450 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -6.4% | 2,400 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -6.8% | 140 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -8.2% | 2,350 | |
| Executive Assistant | -15.1% | 1,740 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $48,880 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $63,071 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Des Moines-West Des Moines against the US
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays above the US median for 3 of the 17 roles, most of all for customer support specialists (+9.2%) and office managers (+3.2%), and below it for 9, furthest for executive assistants (-15.1%). For payroll specialists, HR assistants, administrative assistants, bookkeepers and virtual receptionists it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 17 is -1.1%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for customer support specialists, #24 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for e-commerce order specialists, #171 of 287.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Des Moines-West Des Moines has more customer support specialists (26.5% of these jobs here, against 16.4% nationally) and marketing specialists (7.6% against 5.7%), and fewer virtual receptionists (2.8% against 5.7%) and administrative assistants (6.8% against 10.8%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Vineland, NJ is nearest, at -1.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | -1.1% | 17 | 12,090 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | -1.1% | 17 | 56,930 |
| Vineland, NJ | -1.1% | 16 | 4,840 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | -1.1% (this area) | 17 | 45,480 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -1.3% | 17 | 107,430 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | -1.3% | 17 | 81,260 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Des Moines-West Des Moines span $36,360–$125,420, the widest band (3.4×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $36,550–$49,140. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 12 of 17 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, accountants, data entry specialists and 4 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($73,280 against a $65,510 median for sales development representatives).
Des Moines-West Des Moines against Iowa
Against Iowa as a whole, Des Moines-West Des Moines pays more for 15 of 17 roles, led by marketing specialists (+15.3%) and office managers (+11.3%), and less for 2, most of all e-commerce order specialists (-4.4%). It has the highest median in Iowa for marketing specialists, office managers and executive assistants and 3 more roles.
Other areas in Iowa
By jobs in these roles, Des Moines-West Des Moines is #1 of 12 areas in Iowa. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Davenport-Moline to the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | 16,150 | 17 |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | 13,550 | 17 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 13,480 | 17 |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | 9,880 | 17 |
| Iowa City, IA | 8,030 | 16 |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | 7,490 | 17 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 6,400 | 17 |
| Dubuque, IA | 5,880 | 15 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | 5,340 | 15 |
| Southwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | 4,830 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $101,150 a year, about $130,516 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $37,910.
Is hiring in Des Moines-West Des Moines cheaper than the US median?
For 9 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all executive assistants (-15.1%). 3 pay more than the US median, led by customer support specialists (+9.2%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.