Senior GCP ML Engineer.
Des Moines.
$192,000
median salary, 11% below the national average
$150,000 to $250,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Senior GCP ML Engineer salary in Des Moines is $192,000, 11% below the national average. Entry level starts near $150,000. Experienced professionals push past $250,000. Des Moines is a major insurance and financial services hub, home to Principal Financial, EMC Insurance, and a growing fintech community. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $173,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$125,000
to $154,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$163,000
to $202,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$211,000
to $250,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$240,000
to $298,000
Salary trend
+5% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $51,000 to the total package.
Base
$192,000
Equity
$29,000
Bonus
$18,000
Signing
$4,000
Estimated total: $243,000
How Des Moines compares
Des Moines, IA
$192,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$215,000
Des Moines is $23,000 below
Senior GCP ML Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Des Moines
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Senior GCP ML Engineer 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. The gap between theoretical knowledge and production deployment experience is the single largest salary differentiator. Senior GCP ML Engineers who can optimize inference costs, reduce model latency, and handle scale reliably earn significantly more. Published research or open source contributions to widely adopted frameworks create additional leverage in negotiations.
Senior GCP ML Engineers earn $168,000 to $280,000. Progression splits into the IC track (staff at $333,000, principal at $376,000) or management (engineering manager at $355,000). Specialization depth and cross-team impact determine which path yields higher 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 top-tier companies adds 30% to 60% above base salary. Annual bonuses of 15% to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $75,000 are common when changing roles. Refresher equity grants vest annually. Relocation packages and executive benefits like financial planning are typical. 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 $192,000, 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 Senior GCP ML Engineers in Des Moines runs from $150,000 to $250,000. 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 Director of Engineering in Des Moines earns $191,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Des Moines is Principal AI Research Scientist at $313,000
Common questions.
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