Engine and Other Machine Assemblers Salary
In Iowa, engine and other machine assemblers earn $46,040 at the median, or about $22.13 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $51,812 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 33.9% of take-home, which is tight.
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 $46K get you in Iowa?
About engine and other machine assemblers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for engine and other machine assemblers in Iowa runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $54K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 engine and other machine assemblers (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track engine and other machine assemblers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a engine and other machine assembler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 34.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for engine and other machine assemblers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new engine and other machine assemblers typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,575/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is engine and other machine assembler a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $46K here vs. $54K 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 engine and other machine assemblers?
Iowa pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do engine and other machine assemblers make in Iowa?
The median is $46,040 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,910, and experienced engine and other machine assemblers can clear $62,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,069/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 34.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a engine and other machine assemblers 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 engine and other machine assemblers salary is worth about $51,812 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do engine and other machine assemblers 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.