Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary
The median pay for a aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Iowa is $69,890/year ($33.6/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $78,652 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 23.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in Iowa?
About aircraft mechanics and service technicians
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Iowa runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $80K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 23.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Iowa can be a reasonable trade-off for aircraft mechanics and service technicianss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level aircraft mechanics and service technicians (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians salary by metro in Iowa
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | $67K | -4% | 40 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $59K | -15% | 130 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $55K | -22% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft mechanics and service technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 23.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft mechanics and service technicians typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,024/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 53% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is aircraft mechanics and service technician a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $70K here vs. $80K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for aircraft mechanics and service technicians?
Iowa pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — below the national median.
How much do aircraft mechanics and service technicians make in Iowa?
The median is $69,890 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,740, and experienced aircraft mechanics and service technicians can clear $93,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,500/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 23.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary is worth about $78,652 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do aircraft mechanics and service technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.