BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Materials Engineers in Iowa

$82,220 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$39.53 per hour

▼ 31.6% below U.S. average44th of 45 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$82,220per year
Median$64,270per year
Hourly$39.53per hour
10th – 90th percentile$62,390 – $115,140per year

Materials Engineers Pay Range in Iowa

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$62,390
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$62,390
  • 50th Percentile — Median$64,270
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$98,730
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$115,140

Half of Materials Engineers in Iowa earn more than $64,270. The top 10% make $115,140 or more, while entry-level workers start around $62,390.

Materials Engineers in Iowa: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Iowa ranks 44th of 45 states for Materials Engineers pay, at $82,220 per year (31.6% below the U.S. average of $120,250).
  • 200 people work as Materials Engineers in Iowa — 0.9% of all U.S. Materials Engineers jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.87: Materials Engineers jobs are less concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $62,390; the top 10% earn over $115,140.
  • Hourly equivalent: $39.53 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $173,000.
  • Among engineering jobs in Iowa, Computer Hardware Engineers pays the most ($137,120).

Materials Engineers Job Market in Iowa

Key factors affecting compensation

Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Materials Engineers here earn $82,220 on average, placing the state 44th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $82,220 is roughly equivalent to $95,605 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Idaho ($98,410), Rhode Island ($98,270), Wisconsin ($95,180) are the closest alternatives for Materials Engineers weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Materials Engineers salary in Iowa?

The average Materials Engineers salary in Iowa is $82,220 per year (median $64,270), which is 31.6% below the national average of $120,250.

How does Iowa rank for Materials Engineers pay?

Iowa ranks 44th out of 45 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($173,000/yr).

How much do entry-level Materials Engineers make in Iowa?

The lowest-paid 10% of Materials Engineers in Iowa earn about $62,390 per year and the 25th percentile is $62,390.

How much do Materials Engineers make per hour in Iowa?

About $39.53 per hour, based on the $82,220 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Materials Engineers work in Iowa?

BLS counts 200 Materials Engineers jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).

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