Economics Degree in Des Moines, IA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Des Moines, IA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$92K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.6 yrs
in Des Moines
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Des Moines, IA Overview
Des Moines, Iowa (pop. 214,133) has 10 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $975/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Des Moines is approximately $59,800, growing to $92,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$8,977/yr
Private Tuition
$38,388/yr
Room & Board
$8,658/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,739/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
56%
Economics Salary in Des Moines (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Des Moines's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Des Moines adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Des Moines
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Des Moines tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,977 | Private avg: $38,388
Des Moines avg aid: $9,739/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$70,540
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,600
vs HS diploma in Des Moines
ROI Payback Period
2.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Des Moines
$711,460
Lifetime earnings premium ($782,000) minus total education cost ($70,540)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Des Moines
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Des Moines for Economics
Drake University
private
$45,520/yr
$182,080 total
Grand View University
private
$31,256/yr
$125,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Des Moines Area Community College
$5,064/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Des Moines
Des Moines offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Des Moines Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Iowa Cities
Cedar Rapids, IA
$65K starting · COL 100
4 colleges
Davenport, IA
$51K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Sioux City, IA
$55K starting · COL 84
2 colleges
Iowa City, IA
$62K starting · COL 95.2
3 colleges
West Des Moines, IA
$63K starting · COL 97.5
3 colleges
Ankeny, IA
$62K starting · COL 95.8
3 colleges
Waterloo, IA
$54K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Ames, IA
$57K starting · COL 87
8 colleges
Other Business Majors in Des Moines
Business Analytics
$72K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$46K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$46K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$57K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$53K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Des Moines — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Economics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Des Moines.