Mechanical Engineer Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in Iowa is $97,700/year ($46.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $109,948 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 17.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $98K actually covers in Iowa, month by month
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What this looks like in Iowa
Mechanical engineers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 17.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in Iowa
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $104K | +7% | 930 |
| Ames | $99K | +1% | 120 |
| Iowa City | $96K | -2% | 60 |
| Sioux City | $95K | -3% | 70 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $89K | -9% | 190 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $85K | -12% | 390 |
| Cedar Rapids | $85K | -13% | 350 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 17.7% 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 mechanical engineers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,562/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
Iowa pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in Iowa?
The median is $97,700 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,050, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $137,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,998/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 17.7% 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 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 mechanical engineers salary is worth about $109,948 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.