Civil Engineer Hourly Pay in Des Moines, IA: $48.02 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a civil engineer working in Des Moines, IA runs $48.02 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $99,890 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Weighted against Des Moines's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.7, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $52.37 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $59,930 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Civil engineers in Des Moines, Iowa, can expect to earn a median hourly rate of $48.02, reflecting a competitive position within the Iowa market. This rate is slightly below the national median hourly pay of $49.76, indicating a steady demand for engineering professionals in the region. For civil engineers working part-time, such as those employed three days a week, this translates to a meaningful income, while per-diem workers who operate within typical settings—like consulting firm offices or construction site field offices—also benefit from this hourly compensation structure. The hourly wage range in Des Moines spans from $32.11 for entry-level positions up to $69.46 for highly experienced professionals, demonstrating a clear trajectory for career advancement and financial growth.
Civil Engineer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $32.11 | $256.90 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $38.64 | $309.12 |
| Median (P50) | $48.02 | $384.16 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $60.56 | $484.50 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $69.46 | $555.68 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Des Moines
Based on $48.02/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $48.02/hr, a civil engineer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Des Moines, IA can expect to earn approximately $99,883 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $57,625. With a cost-of-living index of 91.70 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Des Moines.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Des Moines
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,920.82 | $8,324 | $99,883 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,152.49 | $4,994 | $59,930 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $768.33 | $3,329 | $39,953 |
Compare CE, PE Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (Des Moines) | $48.02 |
| Mechanical Engineer (National Avg) | $48.61 |
| Electrical Engineer (National Avg) | $54.18 |
| Architect (National Avg) | $45.72 |
| Construction Manager (National Avg) | $51.87 |
Civil Engineers in Des Moines, IA earn a median of $99,890 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.48% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 0.90% above the Iowa state average of $98,999.
Civil Engineer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $48.02/hr = $59,930/year (purchasing power: $65,353).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $99,883/year (purchasing power: $108,922).
CoL index: 91.701 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$41.04/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$46.79/hr
2026 Current Est.
$48.02/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+20.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Des Moines (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $41.04/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $42.24/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $38.81/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $40.35/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $47.38/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $46.36/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $46.79/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $48.02/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $49.28/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for civil engineers in Des Moines grew 14.0% from $41.04/hr (2019) to $46.79/hr (2025). At a 2.63% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $49.28/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem civil engineers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Des Moines metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.63% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Civil Engineer in Des Moines
Furthermore, those operating in Des Moines as per-diem civil engineers can maximize their earnings, often charging between $100 and $180 per hour through 1099 agreements. For specialized roles—such as structural or forensic engineers acting as expert witnesses—billable hours can escalate significantly, with rates sometimes reaching $250 to $500 per hour. The hourly pay structure diverges notably across various employers in Des Moines; it varies between large engineering consulting firms such as AECOM and Jacobs and federal agencies like the USACE. While some may opt for lower hourly rates that include benefits like health insurance, others might seek higher pay without additional perks. For negotiating in Des Moines, engineers should emphasize their specialized skills and consider the variability of pay, aligning their requests with the current demand landscape fueled by ongoing infrastructure spending under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, thus making informed decisions particularly within the context of their career phase.
More salary data for Des Moines, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Chen, P.E.
Career Analyst
Jordan Chen has 10 years of experience in structural engineering. He works primarily in urban infrastructure projects.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for civil engineers in Des Moines. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.63%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for civil engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Chen, P.E., a licensed civil engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov