What the numbers say
The median Electrical Engineer in Iowa earned $107,270 in 2024, about 6% below the US median of $114,360. That gap is smaller than it first looks. Iowa's cost of living runs roughly 10% below the national baseline, so the nominal discount shrinks once you account for what the money actually buys. In purchasing-power terms, Iowa's median sits close to parity with the national figure.
The spread between bottom and top earners is wide. The 10th percentile came in at $76,610 and the 90th at $181,360. Top earners in Iowa make roughly 2.4 times what entry-level peers make. A range that broad usually reflects differences in seniority, specialization, and the type of employer, whether a utility, a manufacturing firm, or a defense contractor.
The average wage of $126,950 runs well above the median of $107,270. That gap tells us a smaller group of senior engineers pull the average up. The median is the more useful benchmark for someone entering or mid-career in the field.
BLS projects employment for Electrical Engineers to grow 7.1% from 2024 to 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Iowa's total employment for the occupation was 1,250 in 2024, a relatively small base, so even modest hiring additions can move the percentage noticeably.
Salary distribution
Where Iowa electrical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $95,640 and $129,580, with a median of $107,270.
Electrical Engineers in Iowa: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 23 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $100,000. 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 | 2 | $85,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 11 | $100,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $115,838 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 4 | $136,450 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Electrical Engineers in Iowa. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deere & Company | Senior Engineer, Product - Robotics | 4 | $116,450 |
| SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC. | System Test Engineer | 2 | $104,600 |
| Rockwell Collins Inc. | Senior Engineer, E&E Engineering | 2 | $102,045 |
| Teleworld Solutions, Inc. | RF Engineer III | 1 | $2,945,792 |
| Cummins Inc. | Electronic Systems Product Engineer | 1 | $99,695 |
| Helix Electric, Inc. | Project Engineer | 1 | $100,000 |
| Winnebago Industries, Inc. | Electrical Engineer II | 1 | $89,710 |
| Musco Sports Lighting, LLC | Compliance Engineer | 1 | $98,301 |
| Microsoft Corporation | Electrical Engineering | 1 | $142,100 |
| Nordex USA, Inc. | Senior Electrical Engineer | 1 | $120,750 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- RF Engineer III at Teleworld Solutions, Inc.$2,945,792BettendorfWage Level IIIDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25245-280148
- Electronic Systems Product Engineer at Cummins Inc.$99,695ANKENYDecided Aug 21, 2025I-200-25226-241604
- Project Engineer at Helix Electric, Inc.$100,000Cedar RapidsWage Level IIDecided Jun 5, 2025I-200-25149-029906
- System Test Engineer at SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.$109,200Cedar RapidsWage Level IIDecided May 8, 2025I-200-25121-928504
- Electrical Engineer II at Winnebago Industries, Inc.$89,710Forest CityWage Level IIDecided May 5, 2025I-200-25118-912198
- Systems Test Engineer at SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.$100,000Cedar RapidsWage Level IIDecided May 2, 2025I-200-25115-905784
- Compliance Engineer at Musco Sports Lighting, LLC$98,301OskaloosaWage Level IIIDecided Apr 30, 2025I-200-25113-897000
- Electrical Engineering at Microsoft Corporation$142,100West Des MoinesWage Level IIDecided Apr 18, 2025I-200-25101-854566
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.
Electrical 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.
Electrical Engineers specialties in Iowa
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 8 certified offers. The most common variant is Electrical Engineer at a median of $94,081.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineer | Winnebago Industries, Inc. | 4 | $94,081 |
| Senior Engineer, E&E Engineering | Rockwell Collins Inc. | 4 | $121,913 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Electrical Engineers in Iowa, by industry
Median offered wage across 22 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $99,848.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Deere & Company | 14 | $99,848 |
| Professional services | Teleworld Solutions, Inc. | 3 | $100,000 |
| Technology and software | Microsoft Corporation | 3 | $142,100 |
| Energy and utilities | BHE Renewables, LLC | 2 | $119,250 |
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
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
- 02
Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
- 03
Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
- 04
Perform detailed calculations to compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications.
- 05
Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
- 06
Confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.
- 07
Investigate or test vendors' or competitors' products.
- 08
Collect data relating to commercial or residential development, population, or power system interconnection to determine operating efficiency of electrical systems.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+7.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Electrical Engineers in Iowa?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in Iowa is $107,270.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Electrical Engineers?
- The Iowa median is -6.2% versus the BLS national figure of $114,360.
- What is the salary range for Electrical Engineers in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $76,610 and the 90th-percentile at $181,360, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Electrical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 7.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Electrical 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.