Graph Neural Network Researcher.
Des Moines.
$165,000
median salary, 12% below the national average
$123,000 to $218,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Graph Neural Network Researcher in Des Moines earns a median of $165,000 in 2026. That is 12% below the national average. The range runs from $123,000 to $218,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. GNN researchers are valued in drug discovery, social network analysis, and fraud detection, with pharma and fintech paying the highest premiums.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $149,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$107,000
to $132,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$140,000
to $173,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$182,000
to $215,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$206,000
to $256,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $33,000 to the total package.
Base
$165,000
Equity
$18,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $198,000
How Des Moines compares
Des Moines, IA
$165,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$188,000
Des Moines is $23,000 below
Graph Neural Network Researcher salary by city
Salary by role in Des Moines
What you should know
Here is what the Graph Neural Network Researcher market actually looks like in Des Moines. 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. GNN researchers are valued in drug discovery, social network analysis, and fraud detection, with pharma and fintech paying the highest premiums. Experience with molecular property prediction or large-scale graph learning at production scale adds 10 to 20% to offers. Publication at venues like NeurIPS or KDD further strengthens negotiating position.
Junior GNN researchers start at $140,000 to $168,000 after completing a PhD. Senior researchers specializing in graph learning earn $190,000 to $250,000. Staff scientists and research leads reach $260,000 to $350,000, while principal scientists at major drug discovery firms can earn $370,000 to $450,000. 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. Biotech and pharma companies frequently offer signing bonuses of $25,000 to $60,000 alongside equity or stock options. Tech firms provide RSU grants worth 25 to 45% of base salary, with annual refreshers tied to performance ratings. 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 $165,000, 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 Graph Neural Network Researchers in Des Moines runs from $123,000 to $218,000. 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
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- A LLM Fine-Tuning Engineer in Des Moines earns $164,000 (1% less)
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