AI Operations Research Engineer.
Des Moines.
$133,000
median salary, 11% below the national average
$102,000 to $168,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A AI Operations Research Engineer in Des Moines earns a median of $133,000 in 2026. That is 11% below the national average. The range runs from $102,000 to $168,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Compensation reflects the combination of optimization expertise and ML engineering.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $120,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$86,000
to $106,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$113,000
to $140,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$146,000
to $173,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$166,000
to $206,000
Salary trend
+10% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $64,000 to the total package.
Base
$133,000
Equity
$39,000
Bonus
$17,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $197,000
How Des Moines compares
Des Moines, IA
$133,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$150,000
Des Moines is $17,000 below
AI Operations Research Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Des Moines
What you should know
The AI Operations Research 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 reflects the combination of optimization expertise and ML engineering. Engineers who can solve complex scheduling, routing, and resource allocation problems using hybrid AI/OR approaches earn premiums. Experience integrating ML-based prediction with mathematical optimization for real-time decision-making is the most valued skill combination.
Junior OR engineers start at $100,000 to $120,000. Mid-level engineers building production optimization systems reach $140,000 to $168,000. Senior engineers designing enterprise optimization platforms earn $178,000 to $220,000. Directors of optimization at logistics or tech companies can reach $240,000 to $300,000. 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. Performance bonuses of 12% to 20% tied to optimization outcome improvements are common. Equity at logistics and operations AI companies adds $20,000 to $60,000 annually. Benefits include computing resource access and INFORMS or similar professional society memberships. 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 $133,000, 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 Operations Research Engineers in Des Moines runs from $102,000 to $168,000. 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 AI Enablement & Literacy Lead in Des Moines earns $132,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Des Moines is Distinguished Engineer at $295,000
Common questions.
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