Mechanical Engineer Salary in Iowa

Mechanical Engineers in Iowa have a median annual salary of $97,700, which works out to about $46.97 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $79,770 to $108,580, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

17-2141 · Mechanical Engineers

Mechanical Engineer pay in Iowa at a glance

Median annual salary

$97,700

Median hourly wage

$46.97/hr

Average annual salary

$99,230

Average hourly wage

$47.71/hr

25th percentile

$79,770

75th percentile

$108,580

10th percentile

$71,050

90th percentile

$137,540

People employed

3,470

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid mechanical engineer roles in Iowa.

10th percentile
$71,050
25th percentile
$79,770
Median percentile
$97,700
75th percentile
$108,580
90th percentile
$137,540

Iowa vs U.S. salary

The median salary for mechanical engineer roles in Iowa is about 6.2% below the U.S. median of $104,110 for the same occupation.

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How much does a mechanical engineer make in Iowa?

Half of mechanical engineer roles in Iowa report earning more than $97,700 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $99,230 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $79,770 and a quarter are above $108,580, so most mechanical engineer pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect mechanical engineer pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Mechanical Engineer pay in other states

Related jobs in Iowa

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.