Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Des Moines (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Des Moines was $51,820 in May 2025, above the U.S. median of $50,980.
- The best-paid job here that typically needs only a high school diploma or less was first-line supervisors of police and detectives, at a median of $117,790.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by dental hygienists at $93,660.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Des Moines. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA)) and the education level BLS lists as typical for entry into each job (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35), here are the best-paying jobs in the metro area that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA had about 404,130 wage and salary jobs in the survey.
Top-paying jobs that need a high school diploma or less
Jobs with at least 300 positions in the metro area, ranked by median annual wage. The last column shows the national median for comparison.
| Occupation | Des Moines median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $117,790 | 330 | $106,040 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $100,880 | 470 | $107,230 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $98,590 | 920 | $87,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $82,090 | 2,720 | $79,920 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $81,810 | 1,240 | $76,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $79,230 | 1,400 | $79,860 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $75,040 | 2,150 | $63,800 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $73,910 | 390 | $74,690 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $73,710 | 2,100 | $78,000 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $71,690 | 3,100 | $69,500 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $71,150 | 1,300 | $74,450 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $67,450 | 330 | $60,020 |
Many of these jobs pay well because they come with long on-the-job training, licensing, physical risk or irregular hours. Several are skilled trades that train through paid apprenticeships.
Top-paying jobs that need a certificate or associate’s degree
Jobs where BLS lists a postsecondary certificate, some college or an associate’s degree as the typical entry credential:
| Occupation | Des Moines median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $93,660 | 750 | $98,100 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $72,470 | 380 | $64,950 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $67,640 | 560 | $80,110 |
| Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $66,920 | 510 | $63,890 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $64,240 | 360 | $66,150 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $63,670 | 1,040 | $64,400 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $62,640 | 900 | $61,010 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $62,050 | 640 | $76,220 |
The most common jobs in Des Moines, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representatives | $48,880 | 12,070 |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,430 | 11,000 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,140 | 10,060 |
| Cashiers | $29,640 | 8,720 |
| General and Operations Managers | $98,780 | 8,370 |
| Registered Nurses | $78,630 | 8,130 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,720 | 7,840 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,800 | 7,430 |
How to use these numbers
- Medians are midpoints. Half of workers in each job earn more and half earn less; new workers usually start well below the median.
- Overtime is not included. BLS wage estimates exclude overtime pay and shift differentials, so jobs with heavy overtime often pay more in practice (see the OEWS technical notes).
- Check the training path. “Typical entry education” is what most new workers have; licenses and apprenticeships may still be required.
Published October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
One more data point from the same survey: the occupation most concentrated in Des Moines relative to the nation is soil and plant scientists, with a location quotient of 10.57. That means those jobs make up about 10.57 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 430 of them locally, at a median of $132,290. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk