Highest paying jobs in Des Moines that require a bachelor's degree

Written by:
February 10, 2021
Pixabay

Highest paying jobs in Des Moines that require a bachelor's degree

While college and university tuition costs may be skyrocketing, many still believe a bachelor’s degree is essential to landing a high-paying job in the United States. Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs that typically require a bachelors in Des Moines using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage.

Whether highly technical, scientific, or based in finance or the arts, all the jobs require keeping up to date with the latest developments in culture, commerce, or tech.

Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor degree in Des Moines.

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Dragon Images // Shutterstock

#50. Insurance underwriters

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $68,650
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,640
- Employment: 100,050
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($114,370)
--- Rapid City, SD ($112,670)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($110,470)

2 / 50
Aleksandar Karanov // Shutterstock

#49. Occupational health and safety specialists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $68,790
- #194 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,290
- Employment: 92,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,230)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($99,020)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($97,560)

3 / 50
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#48. Public relations specialists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $68,910
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,190
- Employment: 244,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($103,820)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($87,690)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($84,520)

4 / 50
Sorn340 Studio Images // Shutterstock

#47. Surveyors

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $69,500
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,920
- Employment: 45,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Redding, CA ($103,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($101,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($98,770)

5 / 50
sabthai // Shutterstock

#46. Budget analysts

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $69,740
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,300
- Employment: 51,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,920)
--- Boulder, CO ($103,670)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($100,770)

6 / 50
fizkes // Shutterstock

#45. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $70,920
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,840
- Employment: 89,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($115,150)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($89,360)
--- Boulder, CO ($88,670)

7 / 50
Patrizio Martorana // Shutterstock

#44. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $71,090
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,940
- Employment: 84,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($122,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,180)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($104,210)

8 / 50
Budimir Jevtic // Shutterstock

#43. Soil and plant scientists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $71,250
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,860
- Employment: 14,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($98,530)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($98,160)
--- Salinas, CA ($91,990)

9 / 50
BDUK fibre // flickr

#42. Electronics engineers, except computer

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $72,670
- #189 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $110,210
- Employment: 128,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,660)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($132,600)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($130,890)

10 / 50
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#41. Market research analysts and marketing specialists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $74,020
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,060

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,570
- Employment: 678,500
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,640)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,410)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($91,350)

11 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#40. Art directors

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $75,070
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $109,600
- Employment: 42,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,970)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($134,810)

12 / 50
ImageFlow // Shutterstock

#39. Accountants and auditors

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $75,230
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,520
- Employment: 1,280,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($102,090)
--- Salinas, CA ($97,640)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($95,570)

13 / 50
Geraldshields11 // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Labor relations specialists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $77,110
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,870
- Employment: 75,580
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Spartanburg, SC ($111,160)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($106,620)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($106,380)

14 / 50
Canva

#37. Mechanical engineers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $77,300
- #271 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,540
- Employment: 306,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($123,270)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($120,950)

15 / 50
industryviews // Shutterstock

#36. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $77,630
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,420
- Employment: 112,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($92,930)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($90,500)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($89,100)

16 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#35. Industrial engineers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $78,800
- #264 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,660
- Employment: 291,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,850)
--- Billings, MT ($124,350)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,940)

17 / 50
Canva

#34. Electrical engineers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $78,860
- #270 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,480
- Employment: 185,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,450)
--- Salinas, CA ($129,850)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($128,080)

18 / 50
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock

#33. Computer programmers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $81,310
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,610
- Employment: 199,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($113,990)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($113,760)

19 / 50
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

#32. Network and computer systems administrators

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $83,600
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,160

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,410
- Employment: 354,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,440)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($112,910)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($109,790)

20 / 50
Canva

#31. Environmental engineers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $84,320
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,220
- Employment: 53,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,340)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($120,600)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($117,170)

21 / 50
Canva

#30. Computer systems analysts

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $85,710
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,630

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,160
- Employment: 589,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($119,540)

22 / 50
fizkes // Shutterstock

#29. Management analysts

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $85,900
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,100

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,560
- Employment: 709,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($132,090)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($127,750)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($127,570)

23 / 50
Canva

#28. Civil engineers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $86,990
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,360
- Employment: 310,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($120,110)
--- Midland, TX ($117,900)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($117,200)

24 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

#27. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $89,480
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,980
- Employment: 306,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($136,780)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($128,380)
--- Casper, WY ($125,850)

25 / 50
USACE NY // Flickr

#26. Construction managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $91,290
- #216 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,040

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,000
- Employment: 293,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($160,500)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($148,140)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($146,820)

26 / 50
U.S. Department of State // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Atmospheric and space scientists

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $91,670
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,160
- Employment: 9,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($135,520)
--- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($120,170)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($119,660)

27 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#24. Architects, except landscape and naval

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $91,690
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,560
- Employment: 105,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($123,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,550)
--- Lubbock, TX ($116,720)

28 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#23. Medical and health services managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $92,570
- #311 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,160
- Employment: 394,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($163,280)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($159,190)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,570)

29 / 50
EU2017EE // Flickr

#22. Information security analysts

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $92,610
- #90 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,210
- Employment: 125,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,040)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($127,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,570)

30 / 50
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock

#21. Industrial production managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $93,910
- #317 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 185,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Florence, SC ($158,000)
--- Boulder, CO ($149,990)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($149,500)

31 / 50
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

#20. Credit analysts

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $94,940
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,930
- Employment: 73,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($120,850)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($116,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,330)

32 / 50
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock

#19. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $96,640
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,620
- Employment: 1,406,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($145,730)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($145,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($134,090)

33 / 50
Financial Times // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Personal financial advisors

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $99,840
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,290
- Employment: 210,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Montgomery, AL ($178,100)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($173,970)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($171,370)

34 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#17. Training and development managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $101,460
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,470
- Employment: 38,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,900)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,380)

35 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#16. Purchasing managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $101,690
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $128,400
- Employment: 72,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($171,560)
--- Morgantown, WV ($163,830)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($160,620)

36 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#15. Database administrators and architects

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $102,280
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,110
- Employment: 125,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,580)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($116,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($114,960)

37 / 50
IBM Research // Flickr

#14. Computer network architects

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $109,970
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 152,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,400)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($151,650)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,100)

38 / 50
NTNU // Flickr

#13. Natural sciences managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $110,690
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $145,450
- Employment: 67,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($222,530)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($208,910)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($206,710)

39 / 50
dokurose // Shutterstock

#12. Actuaries

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $110,940
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,970
- Employment: 22,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($167,850)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($150,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($147,760)

40 / 50
Pixabay

#11. General and operations managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $111,980
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,030
- Employment: 2,400,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($189,060)
--- Trenton, NJ ($173,050)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,160)

41 / 50
Canva

#10. Sales managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $119,100
- #223 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $141,690
- Employment: 402,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($195,220)
--- Trenton, NJ ($178,020)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($175,500)

42 / 50
Pixabay

#9. Advertising and promotions managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $119,500
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $141,890
- Employment: 25,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($200,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,210)

43 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#8. Human resources managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $126,800
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $129,570
- Employment: 154,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($196,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($174,390)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($170,070)

44 / 50
TopRank Online Marketing // Flickr

#7. Marketing managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $127,330
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $149,200
- Employment: 263,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($199,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($188,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($183,460)

45 / 50
Pixabay

#6. Compensation and benefits managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $131,310
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $134,210
- Employment: 16,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($181,770)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($179,430)
--- New Haven, CT ($179,310)

46 / 50
Pixabay

#5. Architectural and engineering managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $132,020
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

National
- Annual mean salary: $152,930
- Employment: 194,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($203,310)
--- Amarillo, TX ($198,010)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($188,210)

47 / 50
Canva

#4. Financial managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $132,340
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $147,530
- Employment: 654,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($208,770)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($203,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($182,190)

48 / 50
Almonroth // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Computer and information systems managers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $136,680
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,610

National
- Annual mean salary: $156,390
- Employment: 433,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($215,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($201,960)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($196,290)

49 / 50
TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock

#2. Sales engineers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $141,980
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,780
- Employment: 63,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($158,150)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($156,600)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($153,860)

50 / 50
Maurizio Pesce // flickr

#1. Chief executives

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
- Annual mean salary: $219,040
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $193,850
- Employment: 205,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($270,040)
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($264,330)
--- Midland, TX ($258,760)

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