SOC 51-4041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Machinists — Des Moines
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Machinists in Des Moines, IA is $59,290 per year, close to the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to grow more slowly than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- 0.0%
- Openings per year
- 29,500
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
The median wage for Machinists in Des Moines, IA is $59,290 per year, close to the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $48,350 and $63,670. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $38,270 and the ninetieth at $74,380.
Employment stands at 210, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Davenport records the highest median at $61,710. Of the 508 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 278th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,270 | −34.9% |
| 25th | $48,350 | −17.7% |
| Median (50th) | $59,290 | +0.9% |
| 75th | $63,670 | +8.4% |
| 90th | $74,380 | +26.6% |
| Mean | $56,640 | −3.6% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $61,710 | 600 | |
| 2 | Ames | $60,200 | 60 | |
| 3 | Dubuque | $58,890 | 180 | |
| 4 | Waterloo | $58,100 | 180 | |
| 5 | Sioux City | $56,350 | 80 | |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $56,000 | 180 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Des Moines run 8.3% below the national average, so the median of $59,290 goes as far as $64,656 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,290as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,656US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,290 a year, 0.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,270 to $74,380 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Davenport, at $61,710.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Machinists in Des Moines, IA?
The median annual wage is $59,290, or $28.51 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 $58,750, so pay in Des Moines, IA is 0.9% 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 $74,380 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,270 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 Davenport, at $61,710 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 210 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.
Explore related data