Mechanical Engineers pay range in Iowa City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,970 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Iowa City earn between $77,540 and $109,780.
- $69K10th
- $78K25th
- $96KMedian
- $110K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,190 | $8,016 | $46.25 |
| Median | $96,190 | $8,016 | $46.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,540 | $6,462 | $37.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $109,780 | $9,148 | $52.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Iowa City
On the average salary of $96,190, a single filer in Iowa City takes home about $73,456 a year, or $6,121 a month and $2,825 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Iowa City a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Iowa City area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $96,190 buys what about $105,115 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Iowa City ($50,060). A typical home costs $302,063, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Iowa cities
Iowa City ranks 5th of 7 Iowa metro areas for this job; Davenport pays the most ($107,350).
- Davenport$107,350
- Sioux City$98,140
- Ames$97,670
- Des Moines$96,830
- Iowa City$96,190
- Waterloo$95,720
- Cedar Rapids$94,860
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Iowa City: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Iowa City?
$46.25 an hour on average, and $46.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Iowa City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $69,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Iowa City?
About $73,456 a year ($6,121 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,190. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Iowa City than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($114,695).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2141; area Iowa City, IA (26980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
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