Chief Data Officer.
Des Moines.
$219,000
median salary, 16% below the national average
$164,000 to $287,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what Chief Data Officers actually make in Des Moines: $164,000 at the 25th percentile, $219,000 at the median, and $287,000 at the 75th. That is 16% below the national average. Des Moines is a major insurance and financial services hub, home to Principal Financial, EMC Insurance, and a growing fintech community. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $197,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$142,000
to $175,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$186,000
to $230,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$241,000
to $285,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$274,000
to $339,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $139,000 to the total package.
Base
$219,000
Equity
$74,000
Bonus
$47,000
Signing
$18,000
Estimated total: $358,000
How Des Moines compares
Des Moines, IA
$219,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$260,000
Des Moines is $41,000 below
Chief Data Officer salary by city
Salary by role in Des Moines
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Chief Data Officer offer in Des Moines, understand the terrain. 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. Data maturity of the organization, regulatory complexity, and whether the CDO drives revenue versus compliance create wide pay variance. CDOs at companies monetizing data assets or building AI-powered products earn significantly more than those focused primarily on governance and regulatory compliance activities.
Directors of data science or analytics earn $165,000 to $220,000. VPs of data advance to $210,000 to $280,000. CDOs at mid-market companies make $240,000 to $310,000. CDOs at large enterprises or data-intensive tech companies reach $320,000 to $400,000 with total comp of $500,000 to $1.2 million. 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. Annual bonuses of 20 to 35% of base tied to data quality metrics, AI initiative success, and compliance milestones are standard. Equity grants at tech companies add $150,000 to $600,000 in annualized value. Some CDOs negotiate dedicated data infrastructure budgets. 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 $219,000, 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 Chief Data Officers in Des Moines runs from $164,000 to $287,000. 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 Chief Operating Officer in Des Moines earns $221,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Des Moines is Chief AI Officer at $277,000
Common questions.
Chief Data Officer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Des Moines
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.