How Much Does an MLT Make in West Des Moines, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in West Des Moines, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area
A typical MLT in West Des Moines, Iowa earns $24.16 per hour, or $50,240 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,187 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,330, and the top 10% of earners make over $86,010.
That pay is 7% below the Iowa figure of $54,260 and 20% below the national figure of $62,930. West Des Moines ranks 5th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for MLT pay. About 700 MLTs work in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area. West Des Moines is part of the Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Des Moines share these figures.
MLT pay in West Des Moines at a glance
- Typical pay is $24.16 an hour, or $50,240 a year.
- That is 7% below the Iowa figure, ranking 5th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,330; the top 10% make over $86,010.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in West Des Moines?
Pay in West Des Moines runs from entry-level positions at around $18.91 an hour to more than $41.35 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in West Des Moines
| Career stage | West Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,330$18.91 an hour | $38,790$18.65 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $43,210$20.77 an hour | $43,210$20.77 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $50,240$24.16 an hour | $54,260$26.09 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $66,750$32.09 an hour | $65,810$31.64 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $86,010$41.35 an hour | $79,660$38.30 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Des Moines · West Des Moines area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in West Des Moines
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in West Des Moines was $48,040 a year. By 2025 it had reached $50,240.
How West Des Moines compares with other Iowa cities
Cedar Rapids pays MLTs the most in Iowa at $62,560 a year, $12,320 more than West Des Moines. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sioux City at $47,360.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs West Des Moines | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids | $62,560 | $30.08 | +25% | 270 |
| 2 | Ames | $56,380 | $27.10 | +12% | 110 |
| 3 | Dubuque | $55,680 | $26.77 | +11% | 100 |
| 4 | Iowa City | $52,140 | $25.07 | +4% | 420 |
| 5 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $50,240 | $24.16 | this city | 700 |
| 6 | Waterloo metro incl. Cedar Falls | $47,800 | $22.98 | -5% | 200 |
| 7 | Davenport | $47,770 | $22.97 | -5% | 400 |
| 8 | Sioux City | $47,360 | $22.77 | -6% | 200 |
Every metro area in Iowa with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $54,260
Is West Des Moines a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in West Des Moines earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $50,240 a year, 20% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area, about 1.7 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.2. That makes MLTs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MLT make in West Des Moines, IA?
- A typical MLT in West Des Moines earns $50,240 a year, or $24.16 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,330 and the top 10% earn over $86,010.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in West Des Moines?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in West Des Moines is $24.16. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.91, and the top 10% earn over $41.35 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in West Des Moines?
- Entry-level MLT positions in West Des Moines typically offer around $18.91 an hour, or $39,330 a year.
- Is MLT pay in West Des Moines higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- West Des Moines pay is 7% below the Iowa figure of $54,260 a year, ranking 5th of 8 metro areas in the state. Cedar Rapids pays the most in Iowa at $62,560.