Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $105,160/year ($50.56/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $114,678 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 19.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $105K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines
Des Moines-West Des Moines sits well above the national pay line for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians, local pay runs about 41% higher than the U.S. median of $75K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,318/month, 20.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Des Moines-West Des Moines offers a genuinely strong financial position for mechanical engineering technologists and technicianss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $82K | $92K |
| Dubuque | $81K | $93K |
| Cedar Rapids | $75K | $84K |
| 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, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $59K 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mechanical engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 20.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,202/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mechanical engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Local pay is 41% above the national median — $105K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $105,160 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,040, and experienced mechanical engineering technologists and technicians can clear $129,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,400/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 20.6% 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 $114,678 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.