Mechanical Engineers Salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Cedar Rapids, IA is $82,890/year ($39.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.96), which stretches that salary to about $93,177 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $956/month, or 18.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $83K 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 engineers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Cedar Rapids, IA
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $141K | +38% | 1,690 |
| District of Columbia | $130K | +27% | 590 |
| Alaska | $130K | +27% | 530 |
| California | $126K | +24% | 27,090 |
| Massachusetts | $123K | +20% | 9,430 |
| Wyoming | $117K | +14% | 300 |
| Rhode Island | $115K | +13% | 1,400 |
| Louisiana | $114K | +11% | 1,650 |
| Maryland | $112K | +9% | 6,330 |
| Washington | $109K | +7% | 9,350 |
| Texas | $108K | +6% | 18,790 |
| New Jersey | $107K | +5% | 4,440 |
| Connecticut | $107K | +4% | 5,310 |
| Delaware | $106K | +4% | 530 |
| South Carolina | $105K | +3% | 5,060 |
| New York | $105K | +3% | 8,420 |
| New Hampshire | $104K | +2% | 2,580 |
| Idaho | $104K | +1% | 970 |
| Michigan | $103K | +0% | 31,830 |
| Arizona | $103K | +0% | 5,440 |
| Maine | $102K | -1% | 940 |
| Oregon | $101K | -1% | 3,080 |
| North Carolina | $101K | -1% | 9,390 |
| West Virginia | $101K | -2% | 860 |
| Vermont | $101K | -2% | 530 |
| Illinois | $100K | -3% | 9,920 |
| Kentucky | $99K | -3% | 3,050 |
| Virginia | $99K | -3% | 7,960 |
| Tennessee | $99K | -3% | 3,680 |
| Montana | $99K | -3% | 580 |
| Indiana | $99K | -3% | 8,650 |
| Utah | $99K | -3% | 3,540 |
| Minnesota | $99K | -3% | 5,970 |
| Nevada | $98K | -4% | 1,090 |
| Iowa | $98K | -5% | 4,230 |
| Alabama | $98K | -5% | 5,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $97K | -5% | 14,300 |
| Florida | $97K | -5% | 8,860 |
| Georgia | $97K | -5% | 5,180 |
| Ohio | $96K | -6% | 16,420 |
| Hawaii | $95K | -7% | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $95K | -7% | 8,060 |
| Missouri | $92K | -10% | 3,950 |
| Kansas | $92K | -10% | 4,120 |
| Mississippi | $91K | -11% | 1,210 |
| South Dakota | $91K | -11% | 680 |
| Oklahoma | $91K | -12% | 2,250 |
| North Dakota | $84K | -18% | 770 |
| Nebraska | $83K | -19% | 860 |
| Arkansas | $79K | -23% | 1,150 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track mechanical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Cedar Rapids numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do mechanical engineers make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median is $82,890 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,520, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $133,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Cedar Rapids?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,200/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $956/month, which eats 18.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical engineers 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 engineers salary is worth about $93,177 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical engineers 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.