Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in Cedar Rapids, IA is $75,030/year ($36.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.96), which stretches that salary to about $84,341 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $956/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $75K get you in Cedar Rapids?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Cedar Rapids’s Regional Price Parity (88.96). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Cedar Rapids
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians pay in Cedar Rapids tracks closely to the national median, $75K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $956/month, 20% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.96 (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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in metros near Cedar Rapids, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $82K | $92K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $105K | $115K |
| Dubuque | $81K | $93K |
| Bloomington | $63K | $67K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Cedar Rapids, IA
Entry-level mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $103K | +38% | 270 |
| New Mexico | $98K | +31% | 320 |
| Missouri | $92K | +24% | 800 |
| California | $87K | +17% | 3,660 |
| Connecticut | $83K | +11% | 350 |
| Rhode Island | $82K | +10% | 30 |
| Oregon | $81K | +8% | 260 |
| Nebraska | $80K | +7% | 250 |
| Washington | $79K | +7% | 890 |
| Maryland | $79K | +6% | 640 |
| Ohio | $79K | +5% | 1,800 |
| New York | $78K | +5% | 1,140 |
| Kentucky | $78K | +5% | 520 |
| Delaware | $78K | +4% | 50 |
| Indiana | $77K | +4% | 1,500 |
| Colorado | $77K | +3% | 330 |
| Illinois | $77K | +3% | 1,170 |
| Maine | $77K | +3% | 220 |
| Texas | $77K | +3% | 2,140 |
| North Dakota | $76K | +3% | 90 |
| Virginia | $76K | +2% | 670 |
| Georgia | $74K | -1% | 560 |
| Nevada | $73K | -2% | 420 |
| Arizona | $72K | -3% | 730 |
| Iowa | $72K | -4% | 500 |
| Pennsylvania | $71K | -5% | 1,620 |
| Mississippi | $71K | -5% | 220 |
| South Carolina | $70K | -7% | 1,290 |
| Idaho | $68K | -8% | 30 |
| Michigan | $68K | -9% | 4,930 |
| Wisconsin | $68K | -9% | 900 |
| New Hampshire | $67K | -10% | 570 |
| New Jersey | $65K | -13% | 260 |
| Minnesota | $64K | -14% | 400 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | -16% | 1,310 |
| North Carolina | $62K | -16% | 1,190 |
| Tennessee | $62K | -16% | 580 |
| Utah | $62K | -17% | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -17% | 490 |
| Alabama | $60K | -19% | 400 |
| Florida | $60K | -20% | 540 |
| Kansas | $55K | -26% | 410 |
| South Dakota | $54K | -28% | 110 |
| West Virginia | $48K | -36% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track mechanical engineering technologists and technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Cedar Rapids numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Cedar Rapids?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 20% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $956/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in Cedar Rapids?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,704/month. At HUD’s $956/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in Cedar Rapids?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $75K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Cedar Rapids compare to the national average for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians?
Cedar Rapids pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.96), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median is $75,030 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,730, and experienced mechanical engineering technologists and technicians can clear $90,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Cedar Rapids?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,777/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $956/month, which eats 20% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians salary go in Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids has a Regional Price Parity of 88.96 (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 mechanical engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $84,341 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical 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.