Mechanical Engineers in Iowa. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Iowa's median wage for Mechanical Engineers was $97,570 in 2024, about 7% below the national median of $104,651. That gap is smaller than it looks once you account for what the money actually buys. Iowa's cost-of-living index sits at 89.9, meaning prices run roughly 10% below the US baseline. Adjusted for that, the in-state median comes out closer to $108,500 in national-dollar terms, which puts Iowa above the national figure rather than below it.
The spread from bottom to top earners is wide. Engineers at the 10th percentile earned $64,900 while those at the 90th earned $133,850. Top earners here make about twice what entry-level peers do, which reflects how much experience and specialization move the number over a career. The 25th-to-75th range runs from $78,610 to $108,800, so the middle half of the field clusters in a fairly broad $30,000 band.
BLS projects employment for Mechanical Engineers to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, a pace they classify as faster than average. Iowa had about 4,230 employed in this occupation in 2024, a meaningful base for a state this size, concentrated in manufacturing and agricultural equipment sectors that run through the region.
The national median pulls higher partly because coastal and Sunbelt metro markets carry higher nominal wages. Iowa's figure is more typical of Midwest manufacturing hubs, where the cost-of-living adjustment tends to close most of the headline gap.
Salary distribution
Where Iowa mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $79,770 and $108,580, with a median of $97,700.
Mechanical Engineers in Iowa: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 54 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $92,749. 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 | 16 | $76,762 |
| Level II — qualified | 25 | $94,534 |
| Level III — experienced | 5 | $114,209 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 8 | $115,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in Iowa. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deere & Company | Embedded Systems & Tool Developer | 10 | $114,605 |
| L&T Technology Services Limited | Mechanical Engineer | 6 | $87,500 |
| Danfoss Power Solutions (US) Company | Product Application Engineer | 4 | $94,056 |
| Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | Sr. Project Engineer | 3 | $115,000 |
| Entegee, Inc. | Staff Analysis Engineer | 2 | $82,170 |
| Kimberley Ag Consulting LLC | Field Engineer | 2 | $74,693 |
| Microsoft Corporation | Mechanical Engineering | 2 | $141,600 |
| ADITI CONSULTING LLC | Engineer Product II | 1 | $98,031 |
| Andersen Corporation | Associate Engineer (RDP) | 1 | $78,540 |
| BT Machine and Fabrication LLC | Tool Designer | 1 | $65,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Research Scientist II at Iowa State University of Science and Technology$66,060AmesWage Level IDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-724926
- Mechanical Design Engineer at L&T Technology Services Limited$101,000Cedar RapidsWage Level IIDecided Feb 10, 2026I-200-26034-615679
- Mechanical Engineering at Microsoft Corporation$141,600West Des MoinesWage Level IIDecided Jan 27, 2026I-200-26020-570929
- Engineer, Continuous Improvement Structure and Valvetrain at Deere & Company$100,370WaterlooWage Level IIDecided Jan 27, 2026I-200-26020-572245
- Product Engineer at Danfoss Power Solutions (US) Company$91,497AmesWage Level IIDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-565500
- Mechanical Engineering at Microsoft Corporation$141,600West Des MoinesWage Level IIDecided Jan 16, 2026I-200-26009-546911
- Sr. Project Engineer at Cambrex Charles City, Inc.$115,000Charles CityWage Level IVDecided Jan 14, 2026I-200-26007-540487
- Sr. Project Engineer at Cambrex Charles City, Inc.$115,000Charles CityWage Level IVDecided Jan 8, 2026I-200-25365-519458
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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Mechanical 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.
Mechanical Engineers specialties in Iowa
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 23 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $84,776.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | L&T Technology Services Limited | 8 | $84,776 |
| Engineer | Deere & Company | 6 | $107,290 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | L&T Technology Services Limited | 3 | $73,403 |
| Product Engineer | Danfoss Power Solutions (US) Company | 3 | $83,966 |
| Sr. Project Engineer | Cambrex Charles City, Inc. | 3 | $115,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in Iowa, by industry
Median offered wage across 51 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $96,948.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Deere & Company | 34 | $96,948 |
| Professional services | L&T Technology Services Limited | 10 | $84,100 |
| Technology and software | Microsoft Corporation | 4 | $118,952 |
| Education | Iowa State University of Science and Technology | 1 | $66,060 |
| Energy and utilities | Climax Molybdenum Company | 1 | $105,500 |
| Retail and wholesale | EASTWEST FOODS LLC | 1 | $84,552 |
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)
- 4.9 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Mechanical
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- 02
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- 03
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- 04
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
- 05
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- 06
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
- 07
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
- 08
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.0%
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 Mechanical Engineers in Iowa?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Iowa is $97,700.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The Iowa median is -9.2% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $71,050 and the 90th-percentile at $137,540, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mechanical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mechanical 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.