AI Agriculture Engineer.
Des Moines.
$101,000
median salary, 12% below the national average
$75,000 to $132,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a AI Agriculture Engineer offer in Des Moines, IA, here is the reality: $75,000 to $132,000, with $101,000 as the midpoint. 12% below the national average. Compensation varies based on the specific application area: precision agriculture, crop yield prediction, livestock monitoring, or supply chain optimization. Do not accept the first number.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $91,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$66,000
to $81,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$86,000
to $106,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$111,000
to $131,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$126,000
to $157,000
Salary trend
+9% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $48,000 to the total package.
Base
$101,000
Equity
$29,000
Bonus
$13,000
Signing
$6,000
Estimated total: $149,000
How Des Moines compares
Des Moines, IA
$101,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$115,000
Des Moines is $14,000 below
AI Agriculture Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Des Moines
What you should know
The AI Agriculture Engineer landscape in Des Moines is not what most salary sites will tell you. Des Moines is a major insurance and financial services hub, home to Principal Financial, EMC Insurance, and a growing fintech community. The metro's extremely low cost of living and strong job market make it one of the best value cities for finance professionals. Tech employment is growing as insurtech companies expand. Compensation varies based on the specific application area: precision agriculture, crop yield prediction, livestock monitoring, or supply chain optimization. Engineers who can deploy computer vision for field analysis, build weather-adjusted prediction models, and integrate with farm equipment IoT systems earn premiums. Domain expertise in agronomy or soil science adds measurable value.
Junior AI agriculture engineers start at $75,000 to $90,000. Mid-level engineers building production crop monitoring systems reach $110,000 to $135,000. Senior engineers designing precision agriculture platforms earn $140,000 to $170,000. Directors of AI at major agriculture companies can reach $185,000 to $230,000 in total compensation. In Des Moines, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 14% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at AgTech startups adds $10,000 to $40,000 annually. Performance bonuses of 8% to 15% are common. Some positions offer housing assistance in agricultural regions. Benefits at large agriculture companies include comprehensive packages comparable to tech industry standards. And on the tax side: iowa has a flat 3.8% state income tax. Des Moines has no city income tax. The low tax rate and affordable housing create strong purchasing power. When someone quotes you $101,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Benchmark against national insurance industry pay scales. Des Moines insurance employers must compete with remote offers from larger metros and will often match. The range for AI Agriculture Engineers in Des Moines runs from $75,000 to $132,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Crypto / Web3 Analyst in Des Moines earns $102,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Des Moines is Distinguished Engineer at $295,000
Common questions.
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