Solutions Engineer, AI.
Des Moines.
$135,000
median salary, 13% below the national average
$104,000 to $169,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Solutions Engineer, AI salary in Des Moines is $135,000, 13% below the national average. Entry level starts near $104,000. Experienced professionals push past $169,000. 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 $121,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$88,000
to $108,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$115,000
to $142,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$149,000
to $176,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$169,000
to $209,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $34,000 to the total package.
Base
$135,000
Equity
$19,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $169,000
How Des Moines compares
Des Moines, IA
$135,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$155,000
Des Moines is $20,000 below
Solutions Engineer, AI salary by city
Salary by role in Des Moines
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Solutions Engineer, AI 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. Compensation reflects the ability to design and implement AI solutions for enterprise customers. Engineers who can translate business requirements into technical architectures, build POCs, and drive adoption post-sale earn premiums. Domain expertise in high-value verticals like finance, healthcare, or manufacturing adds 10% to 20% to compensation.
Junior solutions engineers start at $105,000 to $125,000. Mid-level SEs handling enterprise accounts reach $145,000 to $175,000. Senior SEs designing complex multi-system integrations earn $180,000 to $220,000. Solutions architecture leaders and directors of customer engineering can reach $240,000 to $300,000 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. Variable compensation adds 15% to 30% of base salary. Equity at AI companies adds $20,000 to $70,000 annually. Customer success bonuses tied to expansion revenue are common. Travel allowances and home office stipends for field-based roles are standard benefits. 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 $135,000, 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 Solutions Engineer, AIs in Des Moines runs from $104,000 to $169,000. 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 Model Vulnerability Analyst in Des Moines earns $136,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Des Moines is Distinguished Engineer at $295,000
Common questions.
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