Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other Salary
In Iowa, engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others earn $63,120 at the median, or about $30.35 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $71,033 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 25.7% 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 $63K get you in Iowa?
About engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other in Iowa runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.8% 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 engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other salary by metro in Iowa
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $85K | +35% | 130 |
| Iowa City | $79K | +26% | 30 |
| Cedar Rapids | $65K | +3% | 30 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $51K | -19% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 25.8% 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 engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,548/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $63K here vs. $78K 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 engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others?
Iowa pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others make in Iowa?
The median is $63,120 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,460, and experienced engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others can clear $89,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,132/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 25.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other 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 engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other salary is worth about $71,033 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others 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.