State comparison · 2025
Mechanical Engineers salary: District of Columbia vs Iowa
Mechanical Engineers in District of Columbia earn a median of $133,300. In Iowa, $97,700. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9% — not 36.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+36.4%
District of Columbia vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+9%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
District of Columbia
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $133,300
- p25
- $107,300
- p75
- $166,360
- p10
- $86,820
- p90
- $195,190
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -40%
Iowa
Mechanical Engineers
- Median
- $97,700
- p25
- $79,770
- p75
- $108,580
- p10
- $71,050
- p90
- $137,540
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -71%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.