Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
The median pay for a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $102,200/year ($49.14/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $111,450 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 20.4% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $102K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
About mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K.Top earners bring in $125K or more - a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $100K | +46% | 410 |
| New Mexico | $88K | +28% | 330 |
| Indiana | $83K | +21% | 1,750 |
| California | $82K | +20% | 3,300 |
| Rhode Island | $81K | +18% | 30 |
| Missouri | $81K | +18% | 740 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +18% | 320 |
| Nebraska | $78K | +13% | 320 |
| District of Columbia | $77K | +12% | N/A |
| Maryland | $77K | +12% | 800 |
| New York | $76K | +10% | 1,390 |
| Maine | $75K | +9% | 190 |
| Texas | $74K | +8% | 1,810 |
| Illinois | $74K | +8% | 1,470 |
| Washington | $74K | +8% | 1,040 |
Track mechanical engineering technologists and technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $102,200 a year - that works out to about $49.14 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,780, and experienced mechanical engineering technologists and technicians can clear $125,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,240/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 21.1% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 $111,450 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.