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State comparison · 2025

Materials Engineers salary: Iowa vs New Mexico

Occupation

Materials Engineers in New Mexico earn a median of $165,600. In Iowa, $64,270. After cost-of-living, the gap is 59.2% — not 61.2%.

Nominal pay gap
-61.2%
Iowa vs New Mexico
COL-adjusted gap
-59.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities

Iowa

Materials Engineers

Median
$64,270
p25
$62,390
p75
$98,730
p10
$62,390
p90
$115,140
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
87.8
See full breakdown for Iowa

New Mexico

Materials Engineers

Median
$165,600
p25
$160,340
p75
$197,900
p10
$126,640
p90
$204,400
COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
92.2
Hiring velocity (180d)
+171%
See full breakdown for New Mexico

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.