Physics Degree in Des Moines, IA — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Des Moines, IA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$57K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$97K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.8 yrs
in Des Moines
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Des Moines, IA Overview
Des Moines, Iowa (pop. 214,133) has 10 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $975/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Des Moines is approximately $57,040, growing to $96,600 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
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%
Physics Salary in Des Moines (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Des Moines's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Des Moines adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Des Moines
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics 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
$24,840
vs HS diploma in Des Moines
ROI Payback Period
2.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Des Moines
$619,460
Lifetime earnings premium ($690,000) minus total education cost ($70,540)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Des Moines
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Des Moines for Physics
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 Physics in Des Moines
Des Moines offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Des Moines Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby Iowa Cities
Cedar Rapids, IA
$62K starting · COL 100
4 colleges
Davenport, IA
$49K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Sioux City, IA
$52K starting · COL 84
2 colleges
Iowa City, IA
$59K starting · COL 95.2
3 colleges
West Des Moines, IA
$60K starting · COL 97.5
3 colleges
Ankeny, IA
$59K starting · COL 95.8
3 colleges
Waterloo, IA
$51K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Ames, IA
$54K starting · COL 87
8 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Des Moines
Prompt Engineering
$46K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$87K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$78K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$81K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$78K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$74K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics 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 Physics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Des Moines.