SOC 33-1021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — Des Moines
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Des Moines, IA comes to $110,210 a year, ahead of the national median of $93,530 by 17.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Des Moines, IA comes to $110,210 a year, ahead of the national median of $93,530 by 17.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $80,270 and $112,140. The lowest tenth earn under $70,560, while the highest tenth earn more than $112,140.
The area has 160 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.61 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Sioux City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $76,960. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 47th of 508 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $70,560 | −24.6% |
| 25th | $80,270 | −14.2% |
| Median (50th) | $110,210 | +17.8% |
| 75th | $112,140 | +19.9% |
| 90th | $112,140 | +19.9% |
| Mean | $99,800 | +6.7% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux City | $76,960 | 40 | |
| 2 | Davenport | $76,110 | 110 | |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | $72,630 | 70 | |
| 4 | Waterloo | $71,490 | 30 | |
| 5 | Iowa City | $63,600 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Des Moines run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $110,210 goes as far as $125,524 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 34.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$110,210as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$125,524US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $110,210 a year, 17.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $70,560 to $112,140 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 160 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Sioux City, at $76,960.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers in Des Moines, IA?
The median annual wage is $110,210, or $52.99 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $93,530, so pay in Des Moines, IA is 17.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Des Moines, IA earns more than $112,140 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $70,560 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Sioux City, at $76,960 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 160 jobs in this occupation in Des Moines, IA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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