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  1. Home/
  2. Salaries/
  3. VP of Marketing/
  4. Des Moines

VP of Marketing.

Des Moines.

$198,000

median salary, 16% below the national average

$147,000 to $261,000. Last updated April 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

VP of Marketing pay in Des Moines ranges from $147,000 to $261,000 in 2026. The median is $198,000, 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. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$147,000

per year

Median

$198,000

per year

75th Percentile

$261,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$147,000$261,000

Salary by experience

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $178,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$129,000

to $158,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$168,000

to $208,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$218,000

to $257,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$248,000

to $307,000

Salary trend

+3% YoY
$176,000
2022
$181,000
2023
$187,000
2024
$192,000
2025
$198,000
2026

Total compensation

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $132,000 to the total package.

Base

$198,000

Equity

$71,000

Bonus

$45,000

Signing

$16,000

Estimated total: $330,000

How Des Moines compares

Des Moines, IA

$198,000

Cost of living: 14% below average

National Average

$235,000

Des Moines is $37,000 below

VP of Marketing salary by city

VP of Marketing salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$337,000$251,000 – $445,0001.38x$244,000
San Francisco, CA$317,000$236,000 – $419,0001.35x$235,000
Honolulu, HI$306,000$228,000 – $403,0001.30x$235,000
Seattle, WA$300,000$224,000 – $396,0001.24x$242,000
New York, NY$289,000$215,000 – $381,0001.28x$226,000
Washington DC, DC$285,000$212,000 – $376,0001.25x$228,000
Arlington, VA$278,000$207,000 – $367,0001.22x$228,000
Boulder, CO$276,000$205,000 – $364,0001.15x$240,000
Boston, MA$275,000$205,000 – $363,0001.22x$225,000
Des Moines, IA$198,000$147,000 – $261,0000.86x$230,000

See all 83 cities for VP of Marketing →

Salary by role in Des Moines

Salary comparison by role in Des Moines
RoleMedianRange
Distinguished Engineer$295,000$224,000 – $376,000
Chief AI Officer$275,000$204,000 – $354,000
Chief Technology Officer$254,000$189,000 – $333,000
VP of Marketing$198,000$147,000 – $261,000
Director of Generative AI$198,000$149,000 – $260,000
Staff Engineer$197,000$157,000 – $250,000
Director of Engineering$195,000$151,000 – $252,000
Head of AI Partnerships$194,000$144,000 – $256,000

What you should know

Before you negotiate a VP of Marketing 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 city's extremely low cost of living and strong job market make it one of the best value cities for finance professionals. Marketing budget size, attribution to pipeline, and company growth stage create the widest pay variation. VPs owning demand generation with clear revenue attribution earn more than those in brand or communications-focused roles. B2B SaaS and fintech companies pay at the top of market for marketing leaders.

Senior directors of marketing earn $145,000 to $185,000. VPs of marketing at growth-stage startups start at $185,000 to $250,000. VPs at mid-market companies make $230,000 to $290,000. VPs at large enterprises earn $280,000 to $350,000 in base with total comp of $400,000 to $700,000. 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 20 to 35% of base tied to marketing-sourced pipeline, lead quality, and brand metrics are standard. Equity grants at growth companies add $80,000 to $300,000 in annualized value. Conference and event budgets provide professional development benefits. And on the tax side: iowa has a flat 3.8% state income tax. Des Moines has no city income tax. The low rate and affordable housing create strong purchasing power. When someone quotes you $198,000, 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 compete with remote offers from larger metros. The range for VP of Marketings in Des Moines runs from $147,000 to $261,000. 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

Interactive

Is your offer competitive?

Enter your VP of Marketing offer to see where you stand in Des Moines.

$

25th

$147,000

Median

$198,000

75th

$261,000

Considering a related role?

  • A Staff Engineer in Des Moines earns $197,000 (1% less)
  • The highest-paying role in Des Moines is Distinguished Engineer at $295,000

Common questions.

Yes, typically 10 to 20% more in base salary. Demand generation VPs own measurable pipeline metrics that directly correlate to revenue, making their value easier to quantify. Brand VPs at consumer companies can close this gap when brand equity demonstrably drives market share and pricing power.

VPs managing teams of 20 or more typically earn 15 to 25% more than those with smaller teams. Larger teams indicate greater budget responsibility, more complex operations, and higher organizational impact. Managing both in-house teams and agency relationships adds further complexity that commands higher pay.

Ask about equity structure, vesting schedule, annual bonus targets, 401(k) match, health insurance premiums, PTO policy, and remote flexibility. Performance bonuses of 20 to 35% of base tied to marketing-sourced pipeline, lead quality, and brand metrics are standard. In Des Moines's market, these extras can add $49,500 or more on top of the base salary.

Relevant certifications can add 5 to 15% to a VP of Marketing's base salary in Des Moines. Specifically, marketing budget size, attribution to pipeline, and company growth stage create the widest pay variation. In a market where the range spans $147,000 to $261,000, certifications often bridge the gap between the 50th and 75th percentile.

VP of Marketing compensation in Des Moines has trended upward as demand outpaces supply. The 2026 range of $147,000 to $261,000 reflects a market that rewards specialization. Marketing budget size, attribution to pipeline, and company growth stage create the widest pay variation.

Performance bonuses of 20 to 35% of base tied to marketing-sourced pipeline, lead quality, and brand metrics are standard. Equity grants at growth companies add $80,000 to $300,000 in annualized value. Conference and event budgets provide professional development benefits. In Des Moines's market, the base range of $147,000 to $261,000 is just the starting point for negotiation.

It depends on the position and employer. Many VP of Marketings in Des Moines are classified as exempt salaried employees without overtime eligibility. However, performance bonuses of 20 to 35% of base tied to marketing-sourced pipeline, lead quality, and brand metrics are standard. When evaluating the $147,000 to $261,000 range, ask about the total compensation structure during negotiation.

VP of Marketing salary in other cities

Austin$252,000
Atlanta$247,000
Anchorage$260,000
Albuquerque$203,000
Arlington$278,000
Albany$230,000

Other salaries in Des Moines

VP of Product$217,000
VP of Product Design$204,000
VP of Engineering$215,000
VP of Sales$208,000

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"VP of Marketing Salary in Des Moines, IA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, April 2026. https://www.orbytjobs.ai/salaries/vp-of-marketing/des-moines-ia

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