CDCareer Decision

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary in Des Moines, IA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Des Moines, IA have a median annual salary of $81,220, with 240 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $57,040 at the 10th percentile to $119,340 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$81,220

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$39.05

Employment

240

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$57,040
10th
$66,450
25th
$81,220
Median
$91,070
75th
$119,340
90th

Local compared with national

Des Moines, IA

$81,220

Median annual · 2025

United States

$82,220

Median annual · 2025

The Des Moines, IA median is 1.2% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $1,000).

Top skills

  1. 1.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.0
  2. 2.Active ListeningImportance 4.0
  3. 3.WritingImportance 4.0
  4. 4.SpeakingImportance 4.0
  5. 5.ScienceImportance 4.0
  6. 6.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 4.0
  7. 7.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.9
  8. 8.Active LearningImportance 3.8
  9. 9.MonitoringImportance 3.6
  10. 10.CoordinationImportance 3.6
  11. 11.MathematicsImportance 3.3
  12. 12.Learning StrategiesImportance 3.3

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Job zone
4

Technology used

  • ADMS pollution modeling software
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • C++
  • CAP88-PC
  • CERC EMIT
  • Chemical management tracking software
  • Chemicals and Irrigation CANDI
  • Compass software
  • Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
  • Database software
  • DataPipe EHS
  • DQO ELIPGRID-PC

Common tasks

  • Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.
  • Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
  • Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
  • Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
  • Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
  • Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
  • Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
  • Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
  • Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.
  • Prepare charts or graphs from data samples, providing summary information on the environmental relevance of the data.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary in other locations

Other occupations in Des Moines, IA