Plan and conduct user research studies to inform product design decisions. Median salary in Des Moines: $96K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Des Moines, Iowa. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
UX Researchers in Des Moines earn approximately 14% lower than the US national median for this role — a $16,000 discount on annual base salary. Des Moines's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 88 (US avg = 100).
Adjusted for Des Moines's cost-of-living index (88), the median UX Researcher salary buys the equivalent of $109,091 in a US-average-cost city. That's $2,909 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
This role is 70% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Des Moines-based UX Researchers. Many Des Moines professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Des Moines's local rate — verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $96K by 2030.
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The median UX Researcher salary in Des Moines, IA is $96,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Des Moines–IA metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level UX Researchers in Des Moines with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $71,000 and $96,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $96,000 to $125,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $125,000 to $159,000 or more.
Des Moines has a cost of living index of 88 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 12% further in Des Moines than the national average. Iowa has a 4.82% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's or Master's in Psychology, HCI, or Design. This role is 70% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Des Moines-based professionals.