Civil Engineers Salary
Civil Engineers in Iowa make a median of $96,430 a year, or about $46.36 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $108,519 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 17.5% 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 $96K get you in Iowa?
About civil engineers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Civil engineers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 17.9% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level civil engineers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineers salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $100K | +4% | 290 |
| Dubuque | $99K | +3% | 120 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $97K | +1% | 110 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $97K | +1% | 830 |
| Cedar Rapids | $96K | -1% | 290 |
| Iowa City | $93K | -4% | 130 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $93K | -4% | 410 |
| Sioux City | $88K | -8% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track civil 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 civil engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 17.9% 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 engineers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineers typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,894/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is civil engineer a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for civil engineers?
Iowa pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do civil engineers make in Iowa?
The median is $96,430 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,900, and experienced civil engineers can clear $135,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,929/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 17.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a civil 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 civil engineers salary is worth about $108,519 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do civil 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.