Chemical Engineers in Iowa. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
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 $92,050 and $124,120, with a median of $117,590.
Chemical Engineers in Iowa: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 22 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $92,000. 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 | 9 | $82,514 |
| Level II — qualified | 9 | $94,952 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $115,491 |
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. Click a company for its full H-1B salary breakdown.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | Process Engineer | 5 | $85,000 |
| L&T Technology Services Limited | Chemical Process Engineer | 3 | $91,000 |
| INTELLECTT, INC. | CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEER | 2 | $96,720 |
| Archer Daniels Midland Company | Technology Engineer | 1 | $106,000 |
| Bayer CropScience LLC | Process Engineer | 1 | $120,900 |
| Danisco US Inc. | Technical Services Account Manager | 1 | $94,952 |
| Elanco US, Inc. | Senior Manufacturing Engineering Associate | 1 | $87,500 |
| Gross-Wen Technologies Inc | Senior Process Engineer | 1 | $156,000 |
| Iowa Fertilizer Company LLC | Process Engineer | 1 | $5,200,000 |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 1 | $80,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Process Engineer at Verbio Nevada LLC$110,000NevadaWage Level IIDecided Jun 8, 2026I-200-26152-967349
- Process Engineer at Cambrex Charles City, Inc.$87,550Charles CityWage Level IDecided Jun 4, 2026I-200-26148-959455
- Senior Process Engineer at Gross-Wen Technologies Inc$156,000SlaterWage Level IIIDecided May 19, 2026I-200-26132-900601
- Process Engineer at Bayer CropScience LLC$120,900MuscatineWage Level IIIDecided May 12, 2026I-200-26125-868430
- postdoctoral research scholar at The University of Iowa$66,492Iowa CityWage Level IDecided May 11, 2026I-200-26124-864956
- Chemical Engineer at L&T Technology Services Limited$93,000Iowa CityWage Level IIDecided Apr 21, 2026I-200-26104-789451
- Quality Engineer at Loparex, LLC$82,566Iowa CityWage Level IDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-566918
- Process Engineer I at Cambrex Charles City, Inc.$82,514Charles CityWage Level IDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-390288
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.
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Chemical Engineers specialties in Iowa
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 13 certified offers. The most common variant is Process Engineer at a median of $110,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process Engineer | Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | 9 | $110,000 |
| 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 22 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $91,251.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | 12 | $91,251 |
| Professional services | L&T Technology Services Limited | 6 | $92,000 |
| Education | Iowa State University of Science and Technology | 2 | $73,246 |
| Technology and software | INTELLECTT, INC. | 2 | $96,720 |
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 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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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Related roles in Iowa
Occupations in the same field, with Iowa salary data.
How Chemical Engineers pay compares nationally
Put this Iowa figure in context with our national salary data reports.
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 $117,590.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Chemical Engineers?
- The Iowa median is +13.0% versus the BLS national figure of $104,075.
- What is the salary range for Chemical Engineers in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $78,610 and the 90th-percentile at $134,030, 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.
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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.