Electrical and Electronics Drafters Salary
In Iowa, electrical and electronics drafters earn $74,470 at the median, or about $35.81 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $83,806 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 21.7% 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 $74K get you in Iowa?
About electrical and electronics drafters
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What this looks like in Iowa
Electrical and electronics drafters pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 22.4% 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 electrical and electronics drafters (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Electrical and Electronics Drafters salary by metro in Iowa
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $77K | +4% | 40 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $74K | +0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a electrical and electronics drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 22.4% 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 electrical and electronics drafters in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new electrical and electronics drafters typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,974/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is electrical and electronics drafter a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for electrical and electronics drafters?
Iowa pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do electrical and electronics drafters make in Iowa?
The median is $74,470 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,560, and experienced electrical and electronics drafters can clear $105,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,746/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 22.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a electrical and electronics drafters 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 electrical and electronics drafters salary is worth about $83,806 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do electrical and electronics drafters 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.