Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $81,220. BLS estimates approximately 240 people work in this occupation in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is 1.2% below the national median ($82,220).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $57,040 | $27.42 |
| 25th percentile | $66,450 | $31.95 |
| Median (50th) | $81,220 | $39.05 |
| 75th percentile | $91,070 | $43.79 |
| 90th percentile | $119,340 | $57.37 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 2.2% — Very reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 11.5% — Reliable
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 0.601
- Location quotient
- 1.05
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA’s regional price level is below the national average (index 91.701, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $88,570 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.