# Recruiting Agencies in Des Moines, IA

Des Moines ranks as a top insurance industry hub with Principal Financial, Wellmark, and numerous carriers headquartered in the state capital. Finance and government drive stable employment. Recruiters in Des Moines can help you fill insurance, finance, government and healthcare roles.

## At a glance

- **24** agencies serve this market

## Top 24 ranked agencies

| # | Agency | Rating (reviews) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Bemana](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/bemana) | 4.9 (121) |
| 2 | [Cerebral Staffing](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/cerebral-staffing) | 4.8 (118) |
| 3 | [Capstone Healthcare Staffing](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/capstone-healthcare-staffing) | 4.8 (57) |
| 4 | [Infinite Resources Staffing & Recruiting](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/infinite-resources-staffing-recruiting) | 4.7 (79) |
| 5 | [Paragon IT Professionals](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/paragon-it-professionals) | 4.7 (75) |
| 6 | [Iowa Staffing](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/iowa-staffing) | 4.7 (422) |
| 7 | [Labor Solutions](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/labor-solutions) | 4.6 (2,317) |
| 8 | [P3+Uplift (Professional Project Partners, Inc.)](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/p3uplift-professional-project-partners-inc) | 4.6 (33) |
| 9 | [Express Healthcare Staffing](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/express-healthcare-staffing-1) | 4.6 (110,490) |
| 10 | [Skywalk Global](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/skywalk-global) | 4.6 (6) |
| 11 | [Specialized Recruiting Group of Des Moines](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/specialized-recruiting-group-of-des-moines) | 4.6 (4) |
| 12 | [QPS Employment Group](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/qps-employment-group) | 4.6 (5,281) |
| 13 | [LIVIT Staffing](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/livit-staffing) | 4.5 (2) |
| 14 | [Executive Resources Ltd](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/executive-resources-ltd) | 4.5 (0) |
| 15 | [Focus & Find](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/focus-find) | 4.5 (0) |
| 16 | [LaborMax Staffing](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/labormax-staffing) | 4.3 (407) |
| 17 | [Xclusive Hospitality Staffing of Reno](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/xclusive-hospitality-staffing-of-reno) | 4.3 (162) |
| 18 | [Percipio Workforce Solutions](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/percipio-workforce-solutions) | 4.2 (10) |
| 19 | [Insight Global](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/insight-global) | 4.1 (3,508) |
| 20 | [Just Staffing](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/just-staffing) | 4.1 (10) |
| 21 | [Snelling](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/snelling-1) | 4.1 (15) |
| 22 | [MANPOWER](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/manpower-2) | 3.5 (6,180) |
| 23 | [LGC](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/lgc) | 3.0 (1,214) |
| 24 | [Advastar](https://recruiterrank.co/profile/advastar) | — |

## How These Rankings Work

Scores come from **Google Reviews** via the Google Places API — never from paid placements, and never set by the agencies themselves. We apply a **Bayesian adjusted average** to prevent small-sample distortion (a 2-review 5.0-star agency shouldn't outrank a 200-review 4.8-star one):

```
adjusted_score = (v / (v + m)) * R + (m / (v + m)) * C
```

- `v` — total reviews across all offices
- `m` — prior weight (**20**)
- `R` — the agency's weighted average score
- `C` — the platform-wide mean

So with a global mean of 4.2: an agency with **5 reviews at 5.0** scores 4.36, while one with **200 reviews at 4.8** scores 4.75. The second outranks the first because the score is backed by more evidence.

Multi-office agencies get a single weighted score across locations. Every listing is human-reviewed before publication. Scores refresh hourly. [Read the full methodology →](https://recruiterrank.co/methodology)

## FAQ

### How do Des Moines salary ranges for the most-recruited roles compare to national averages?

Des Moines compensation typically runs 10-15% below coastal markets but tracks closely with Midwest regional averages. Insurance underwriters and actuaries command near-national figures due to heavy concentration of carriers, while financial analysts and accountants sit 5-8% lower than major metro benchmarks. Healthcare roles align with statewide Iowa rates. The lower cost of living—roughly 8% below the national index—makes real purchasing power competitive. Agencies here counsel candidates that total compensation including bonus structures often closes the nominal gap with larger markets.

### What types of roles do these Des Moines recruiting agencies typically fill?

Des Moines agencies concentrate heavily on insurance underwriting, actuarial, claims and risk management positions reflecting the city's status as a major insurance hub. Financial services roles span commercial banking, investment analysis and treasury functions. Healthcare staffing focuses on nursing, allied health and administrative positions for the metro's hospital systems. Professional services placement includes accounting, IT infrastructure and corporate finance roles. Light industrial and logistics staffing serves the distribution centers along the I-35 and I-80 corridors. Several agencies maintain dedicated insurance practices given the sector's dominance in the local economy.

### How can I tell if a recruiting agency in Des Moines is reputable?

Check verified client reviews from companies in your sector—insurance and financial services firms in Des Moines typically vet their agency partners carefully. Ask for placement data showing time-to-fill and candidate retention at 12 months, particularly for specialized roles like actuaries, underwriters or compliance officers. Reputable agencies will share references from hiring managers at comparable Des Moines employers. Verify their recruiters understand Iowa licensure requirements and can articulate how they source passive candidates in a tight regional market. Membership in professional associations provides baseline credibility but shouldn't substitute for performance evidence.

### What's typically included in a recruiting agency's fee?

Agency fees typically cover candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing and placement guarantees. For contingency arrangements common in insurance and financial services roles, expect 20 to 30 percent of first-year salary. Retained searches bill in installments regardless of outcome. Most agreements include replacement guarantees of 30 to 90 days if a hire doesn't work out. Healthcare staffing often operates differently, with markup on hourly wages for contract placements. Fees generally do not cover relocation, background checks or drug screening unless explicitly negotiated into the contract terms.

### Is it worth hiring a specialist recruiter over a general staffing agency?

In Des Moines' insurance and financial services market, specialists consistently outperform generalists on time-to-fill and candidate quality. A recruiter focused on actuarial science or compliance roles maintains active pipelines of credentialed professionals and understands nuanced requirements like Iowa insurance licensing. General agencies spread resources across unrelated sectors, diluting their market intelligence. The fee difference is negligible—both typically charge 20 to 25 percent of first-year salary—but specialists reduce hiring risk substantially. For specialized functions like underwriting or financial analysis, the choice is straightforward.

## Explore

### Nearby cities

- [West Des Moines, IA](https://recruiterrank.co/city/west-des-moines-ia) — 29 agencies
- [Cedar Rapids, IA](https://recruiterrank.co/city/cedar-rapids-ia) — 23 agencies
- [Davenport, IA](https://recruiterrank.co/city/davenport-ia) — 11 agencies
- [Sioux City, IA](https://recruiterrank.co/city/sioux-city-ia) — 8 agencies
- [Waterloo, IA](https://recruiterrank.co/city/waterloo-ia) — 8 agencies

### Top industries in Des Moines

- [Manufacturing](https://recruiterrank.co/industry/manufacturing) — 8 agencies
- [Administrative](https://recruiterrank.co/industry/administrative) — 7 agencies
- [Construction](https://recruiterrank.co/industry/construction) — 6 agencies
- [IT](https://recruiterrank.co/industry/it) — 6 agencies
- [Industrial](https://recruiterrank.co/industry/industrial) — 5 agencies
- [Skilled Trades](https://recruiterrank.co/industry/skilled-trades) — 5 agencies