Career Training Path › Iowa › Des Moines Area Community College
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, Iowa · Public
Address: 2006 Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, IA 50023 · Phone: (515) 964-6200 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,550 | $62,630 | $70,840 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $45,590 | $55,090 | $60,200 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $35,600 | $40,660 | $47,870 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $36,100 | $50,510 | $67,200 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $36,770 | $47,990 | $59,380 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $43,710 | $59,680 | $71,570 |
| Phlebotomists | $35,970 | $38,240 | $44,120 |
| Dental assistants | $39,360 | $48,430 | $57,620 |
| Dental hygienists | $78,320 | $84,010 | $93,880 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $43,040 | $60,680 | $75,950 |
| Construction laborers | $38,180 | $48,490 | $58,470 |
| Electricians | $39,770 | $60,860 | $79,970 |
| Medical assistants | $36,730 | $45,480 | $48,030 |
| Machinists | $44,500 | $57,540 | $61,530 |
| Medical records specialists | $38,910 | $50,640 | $61,920 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Iowa (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 686 | not reported | $33,281 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 512 | not reported | $33,281 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 186 | $40,759 | $35,060 | $7,500 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, under 300 hours | 143 | $30,604 | $36,938 | $5,500 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 86 | $30,604 | $36,938 | $5,500 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 63 | $30,604 | $36,938 | $5,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 53 | $41,813 | $44,244 | $8,770 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 32 | $30,970 | $28,236 | $8,334 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 25 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 24 | not reported | $25,967 | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 22 | $33,532 | $31,762 | $5,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 21 | $51,133 | $55,964 | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Associate degree | 19 | $41,529 | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 19 | $30,604 | $36,938 | $5,500 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 18 | not reported | $33,281 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 18 | $41,813 | $44,244 | $8,770 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | $34,614 | $32,382 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 12 | $51,059 | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | $35,933 | $31,762 | $10,265 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 10 | $30,604 | $36,938 | $5,500 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 8 | $51,059 | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 6 | $41,813 | $44,244 | $8,770 |
| Carpenters | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 2 | $44,272 | $51,482 | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | not reported | $32,772 | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | $28,055 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | $40,759 | $35,060 | $7,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 1 | $41,813 | $44,244 | $8,770 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.