It's no secret that tech jobs are more in-demand than ever. With the advent of remote work and the rise of cloud computing, more companies are seeking outside of the traditional tech hubs to expand their workforce. Could Des Moines be a serious contender? Maybe.

The Current Ecosystem

Why is tech talent so abundant in places like San Francisco and Seattle?

More companies = more job opportunities = higher concentration of talent.

Companies like (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) all offer impressive equity packages that are hard to beat.

The urban lifestyle (not owning a car, living within walking distance of shops and restaurants, better weather on average, etc).

Inclusive and diverse communities.

It's easy to see why certain people are attracted to this. It doesn't come without its own drawbacks though, most notably being the cost of living and masses of humans. What does a mid-sized city need to compete with the major tech hubs?

Significantly lower cost of living.

Well-established companies, along with a vibrant startup scene.

Close proximity to universities to feed the talent pool.

Incubators and co-working spaces.

Short commute times and a growing downtown that's walkable.





Why Des Moines?

3.45% of Des Moines’ workforce is in tech, earning an average salary of $77,800. That’s 1.65 times the city’s average salary for all jobs.





Why maybe?

If all of those things are true, then why did I say maybe? As a resident of Des Moines, I can tell you that it's not for everyone and that there's still progress to be made.

First and foremost, if you can't handle cold weather you probably won't be happy here (or anywhere in the Midwest). While our food and music scene is good (in my opinion), it still can't compete with larger metros. I still frequently drive 3+ hours for concerts.

If you're looking for a completely urban lifestyle, we're not there yet. You can get around without a car, but it's probably going to be painful. Luckily, the short commute times make up for that.

What now?

Most tech-related majors graduate and leave the state, partially for the reasons mentioned above. In my opinion, there is a major visibility issue. There are a lot of exciting tech companies in Iowa that most people don't know about. That's primarily why I created dsmtech.io - to have a centralized listing of all the tech companies in the Greater Des Moines area.

We're starting to see more millennials turn to mid-sized cities due to student loans and rising rent prices. Could Des Moines be the city they choose? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.