Mechanical Drafters Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$46,760
- 25th Percentile — Junior$54,230
- 50th Percentile — Median$63,330
- 75th Percentile — Senior$79,900
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$95,370
Half of Mechanical Drafters in Iowa earn more than $63,330. The top 10% make $95,370 or more, while entry-level workers start around $46,760.
Mechanical Drafters in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 36th of 47 states for Mechanical Drafters pay, at $66,820 per year (11.0% below the U.S. average of $75,060).
- 630 people work as Mechanical Drafters in Iowa — 1.6% of all U.S. Mechanical Drafters jobs.
- Location quotient 1.58: Mechanical Drafters jobs are more concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,760; the top 10% earn over $95,370.
- Hourly equivalent: $32.12 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $98,460.
- Among engineering jobs in Iowa, Computer Hardware Engineers pays the most ($137,120).
Mechanical Drafters Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Mechanical Drafters here earn $66,820 on average, placing the state 36th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $66,820 is roughly equivalent to $77,698 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Maine ($68,780), Tennessee ($68,100), Idaho ($68,050) are the closest alternatives for Mechanical Drafters weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Engineering Jobs in Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- Computer Hardware Engineers $137,120/yr Iowa +105.2% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $113,330/yr Iowa +69.6% vs this role
- Chemical Engineers $112,070/yr Iowa +67.7% vs this role
- Agricultural Engineers $108,960/yr Iowa +63.1% vs this role
- Architects $104,150/yr Iowa +55.9% vs this role
- Engineers All Other $103,560/yr Iowa +55.0% vs this role
- Civil Engineers $99,950/yr Iowa +49.6% vs this role
- Industrial Engineers $99,900/yr Iowa +49.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mechanical Drafters salary in Iowa?
The average Mechanical Drafters salary in Iowa is $66,820 per year (median $63,330), which is 11.0% below the national average of $75,060.
How does Iowa rank for Mechanical Drafters pay?
Iowa ranks 36th out of 47 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($98,460/yr).
How much do entry-level Mechanical Drafters make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mechanical Drafters in Iowa earn about $46,760 per year and the 25th percentile is $54,230.
How much do Mechanical Drafters make per hour in Iowa?
About $32.12 per hour, based on the $66,820 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mechanical Drafters work in Iowa?
BLS counts 630 Mechanical Drafters jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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