What the numbers say
The median Civil Engineer in Iowa earned $94,500 in 2024, about 1.8% below the US median of $96,198. That gap is narrow enough to be unremarkable on its own. What makes it interesting is what happens after accounting for what money actually buys here.
Iowa's cost-of-living index sits at 89.9 against a national baseline of 100. Adjusted for that, the $94,500 median stretches to roughly $105,100 in purchasing terms. That puts Iowa Civil Engineers ahead of peers in higher-nominal states where rent and groceries consume more of the paycheck.
The spread across the pay range is wide. The 10th percentile came in at $63,860 in 2024, and the 90th reached $134,230. Top earners made about twice what those at the bottom of the distribution did. That kind of range reflects the difference between early-career engineers working on smaller municipal contracts and senior engineers leading major transportation or water infrastructure projects. Both work in the same state, often for different types of employers.
BLS projects employment for Civil Engineers to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it categorizes as faster than average. Iowa's existing infrastructure needs and steady public investment in roads and water systems support that direction, though the job count here is smaller (2,560 total employed in 2024) than in more populous states, so individual openings carry more weight.
Salary distribution
Where Iowa civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $76,170 and $112,030, with a median of $94,500.
Civil 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: $75,000. 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 | 10 | $72,100 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $87,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $165,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in Iowa. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Services & Products Company | Greenhouse Structural Engineer I | 3 | $75,000 |
| The Layton Companies | Project Engineer | 2 | $72,100 |
| The University of Iowa | Assistant Professor | 1 | $104,000 |
| Bolton & Menk, Inc. | Design Engineer | 1 | $69,534 |
| Shive-Hattery Group, Inc. | Design Professional - Structural Engineer | 1 | $87,000 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Civil Engineer | 1 | $71,441 |
| Gannett Fleming, Inc. | Designer, Power | 1 | $69,826 |
| KPFF, Inc. | Project Engineer | 1 | $76,500 |
| Terracon Consultants, Inc. | Project Engineer | 1 | $84,500 |
| Climax Molybdenum Company | Engineer I - Project Development | 1 | $85,600 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Assistant Professor at The University of Iowa$104,000Iowa CityWage Level IIDecided Aug 29, 2025I-200-25234-261864
- Greenhouse Structural Engineer I at Engineering Services & Products Company$75,000DyersvilleWage Level IDecided Aug 7, 2025I-200-25212-211689
- Design Engineer at Bolton & Menk, Inc.$69,534Des MoinesWage Level IDecided Jul 14, 2025I-200-25188-155692
- Project Engineer at The Layton Companies$72,100Cedar RapidsWage Level IDecided Jun 25, 2025I-200-25168-101564
- Design Professional - Structural Engineer at Shive-Hattery Group, Inc.$87,000Iowa CityWage Level IIDecided Jun 17, 2025I-200-25161-073452
- Project Engineer at The Layton Companies$72,100Cedar RapidsWage Level IDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25140-996988
- Civil Engineer at AECOM Technical Services, Inc.$71,441WaterlooWage Level IDecided May 23, 2025I-200-25137-987986
- Designer, Power at Gannett Fleming, Inc.$69,826NewtonWage Level IDecided May 5, 2025I-200-25118-909792
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.
Civil 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.
Civil Engineers in Iowa, by industry
Median offered wage across 12 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $73,971.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Bolton & Menk, Inc. | 6 | $73,971 |
| Retail and wholesale | Engineering Services & Products Company | 3 | $75,000 |
| Education | The University of Iowa | 1 | $104,000 |
| Energy and utilities | Climax Molybdenum Company | 1 | $85,600 |
| Technology and software | Microsoft Corporation | 1 | $165,000 |
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)
- 4.7 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Building and Construction
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
- 02
Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
- 03
Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
- 04
Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
- 05
Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
- 06
Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
- 07
Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
- 08
Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Civil Engineers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesCompare Civil Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in Iowa?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in Iowa is $94,500.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The Iowa median is -1.8% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,860 and the 90th-percentile at $134,230, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Civil Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Civil 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.