Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Salary
In Iowa, bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn $81,710 at the median, or about $39.28 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $91,954 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Iowa. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $82K get you in Iowa?
About bioengineers and biomedical engineers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Iowa runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $109K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 20.7% 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 bioengineers and biomedical engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level bioengineers and biomedical engineers (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track bioengineers and biomedical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bioengineers and biomedical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 20.7% 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 bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,725/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is bioengineers and biomedical engineer a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $82K here vs. $109K 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 bioengineers and biomedical engineers?
Iowa pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $109K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — below the national median.
How much do bioengineers and biomedical engineers make in Iowa?
The median is $81,710 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,080, and experienced bioengineers and biomedical engineers can clear $135,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,136/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 20.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a bioengineers and biomedical engineers 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 bioengineers and biomedical engineers salary is worth about $91,954 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do bioengineers and biomedical engineers 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.