Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians in Iowa make a median of $72,540 a year, or about $34.88 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $81,634 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 22.3% 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 $73K get you in Iowa?
About civil engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for civil engineering technologists and technicians, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 22.9% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Iowa offers a genuinely strong financial position for civil engineering technologists and technicianss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level civil engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $79K | +9% | 150 |
| Dubuque | $77K | +7% | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $77K | +6% | 130 |
| Cedar Rapids | $74K | +2% | 120 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $72K | -0% | 380 |
| Iowa City | $70K | -4% | 40 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $69K | -4% | 40 |
| Sioux City | $68K | -6% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track civil engineering technologists and 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 civil engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 22.9% 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 civil engineering technologists and technicians in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,791/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is civil engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $73K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for civil engineering technologists and technicians?
Iowa pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do civil engineering technologists and technicians make in Iowa?
The median is $72,540 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,520, and experienced civil engineering technologists and technicians can clear $90,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,642/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 22.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a civil engineering technologists and 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 civil engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $81,634 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do civil engineering technologists and 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.