Salary distribution
Where Iowa chemical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $88,230 and $117,330, with a median of $101,080.
Chemical Engineers in Iowa: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 14 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $92,300. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 4 | $81,003 |
| Level II — qualified | 7 | $94,952 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $108,041 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chemical Engineers in Iowa. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | Process Engineer I | 3 | $82,514 |
| INTELLECTT, INC. | CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEER | 2 | $96,720 |
| L&T Technology Services Limited | Chemical Process Engineer | 2 | $91,000 |
| Valent BioSciences LLC | Recovery Engineer | 1 | $77,501 |
| Archer Daniels Midland Company | Technology Engineer | 1 | $106,000 |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 1 | $80,000 |
| Elanco US, Inc. | Senior Manufacturing Engineering Associate | 1 | $87,500 |
| Danisco US Inc. | Technical Services Account Manager | 1 | $94,952 |
| Koch Fertilizer Wever, LLC | Process Engineer - KBGFJG318890-3 | 1 | $100,000 |
| Iowa Fertilizer Company LLC | Process Engineer | 1 | $5,200,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Process Engineer I at Cambrex Charles City, Inc.$82,514Charles CityDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-390288
- Recovery Engineer at Valent BioSciences LLC$77,501OsageWage Level IDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25162-082078
- Technology Engineer at Archer Daniels Midland Company$106,000ClintonWage Level IIIDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-053126
- CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEER at INTELLECTT, INC.$99,840CLINTONWage Level IIDecided May 16, 2025I-200-25129-960539
- Postdoctoral Research Associate at Iowa State University of Science and Technology$80,000AmesWage Level IDecided May 9, 2025I-200-25122-931733
- CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEER at INTELLECTT, INC.$93,600CLINTONWage Level IIDecided May 7, 2025I-200-25120-922761
- Senior Manufacturing Engineering Associate at Elanco US, Inc.$87,500Fort DodgeWage Level IDecided Apr 22, 2025I-200-25105-867331
- Technical Services Account Manager at Danisco US Inc.$94,952Cedar RapidsWage Level IIDecided Apr 7, 2025I-200-25091-816099
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Chemical Engineers pay by experience level in Iowa
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Chemical Engineers specialties in Iowa
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 8 certified offers. The most common variant is Process Engineer at a median of $96,298.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process Engineer | Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | 4 | $96,298 |
| CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEER | INTELLECTT, INC. | 4 | $92,300 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Chemical Engineers in Iowa, by industry
Median offered wage across 14 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $97,476.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | 8 | $97,476 |
| Professional services | L&T Technology Services Limited | 3 | $91,000 |
| Technology and software | INTELLECTT, INC. | 2 | $96,720 |
| Education | Iowa State University of Science and Technology | 1 | $80,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Iowa over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 5.0 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Chemistry
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Production and Processing
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Complex Problem Solving
Technical
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- 02
Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- 03
Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.
- 04
Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- 05
Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- 06
Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
- 07
Perform laboratory studies of steps in manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operation, such as a pilot plant.
- 08
Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+2.3%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chemical Engineers in Iowa?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Iowa is $101,080.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Chemical Engineers?
- The Iowa median is -10.2% versus the BLS national figure of $112,605.
- What is the salary range for Chemical Engineers in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $82,700 and the 90th-percentile at $126,600, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Chemical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 2.3% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Chemical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.