.NET Developer Salary in Des Moines: $65,000-$135,000 (2026)

Des Moines' cost of living (approx. index 90) gives .

NET developers stronger purchasing power compared with coastal tech hubs. Rent for a one‑bedroom in downtown or near the Raccoon River area typically runs $900–$1,200; a modest 2‑bedroom in desirable suburbs like West Des Moines or Clive is often $1,100–$1,500.

Median home prices are substantially below national tech centers — enabling many mid‑career developers to buy sooner. Commute costs tend to be lower: typical car commutes are under 25 minutes and public transit coverage supports downtown employers, reducing monthly transport spend versus larger metros.

Groceries, utilities, and services are also cheaper, so a . NET developer earning the local average (~$95k) will generally have more disposable income than someone earning the same nominal wage in a higher‑cost city.

That said, specialized training, certification, or frequent travel to client sites can erode savings if not accounted for in total comp.

Des Moines' market for . NET developers is shaped by a mix of established financial services, sizable health systems, and expanding retail/insurtech initiatives.

Large employers such as Principal Financial Group, regional Wells Fargo teams, Nationwide partners, and insurers maintain a steady need for . NET expertise to support legacy .

NET Framework systems and migration to . NET Core/.

NET 6+. Healthcare providers (UnityPoint and hospital systems) hire .

NET engineers for patient‑management integrations and interoperability work. Local consultancies and government contractors also create demand for short‑term, project‑based engagements.

Because many firms focus on modernization rather than greenfield product startups, salaries skew toward competitive midmarket levels rather than the premium rates seen in venture‑backed coastal tech hubs. Demand is steady but selective: companies pay more for cloud, microservices, and DevOps experience, and for candidates who can demonstrate full‑project delivery and domain knowledge in finance or healthcare.

Minneapolis pays roughly 10–12% more for . NET developers (approx.

$105k average) but also has a higher cost of living (index ~102). Kansas City and Omaha have compensation and costs similar to Des Moines; Kansas City may match nominal pay but with slightly higher rents.

If you prioritize take‑home income and homeownership, Des Moines often wins because salary plus lower housing costs equals stronger net position. Commuting into Des Moines from nearby suburbs is common; inter‑city commuting (e.

g. , from Omaha or KC) is feasible for senior roles or consulting engagements but impractical daily.

Remote work has broadened options — many local employers offer hybrid or remote roles, and remote positions with out‑of‑state companies can pay coastal market rates. When considering relocation, weigh the tradeoff between higher nominal pay elsewhere versus lower living costs and career stability available in Des Moines' industry sectors.

Entry . NET developers (0–2 years) typically start at $60k–$75k working on maintenance, feature development, and testing under senior guidance.

After 3–7 years of demonstrated delivery (designing services, leading modules, and moving projects to . NET Core/.

NET 6+), mid‑level developers commonly reach $80k–$105k, often adding responsibilities like mentoring juniors and owning services. Senior engineers (8+ years) who lead architecture, cloud migrations (Azure experience is highly valued), or manage small teams reach $110k–$140k locally.

Accelerators include strong domain experience in finance or healthcare, demonstrable cloud and DevOps skills (CI/CD, containers, IaC), consulting/project leadership, and visibility on cross‑functional initiatives. Transitioning into lead/architect roles or shifting to product/engineering management can expand compensation beyond typical senior developer bands, especially when moving to national or remote roles.

When negotiating in Des Moines, anchor to realistic local ranges: entry $65k, mid $90k, senior $120k (use these as starting reference points). Emphasize measurable outcomes (reductions in deployment time, successful migrations to .

NET Core or Azure, cost savings) and domain experience (finance, insurance, healthcare). Ask about total compensation beyond base—bonus structure, equity (less common locally but possible with startups), retirement matching (401k percentages), and paid training.

Employers here value longevity and domain knowledge; use competing offers from regional firms or remote roles paying coastal rates to justify higher pay. Negotiate hybrid or remote flexibility if salary stretch is limited—many local firms are open to remote days.

Finally, request a 6–12 month review with explicit performance goals and a salary re‑evaluation clause if initial budget constraints limit starting pay.