Materials Engineer salary in Iowa
Materials Engineers in Iowa earn a median of $64,270 a year ($30.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,140 for the top 10%. That is 43% lower than the national median of $112,860. Iowa ranks 45th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.13 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $82,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for materials engineers in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,390 | $30.00 |
| 25th percentile | $62,390 | $30.00 |
| Median | $64,270 | $30.90 |
| 75th percentile | $98,730 | $47.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,140 | $55.36 |
| Average (mean) | $82,220 | $39.53 |
Half of materials engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,355.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,677.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,471.92 |
| Weekly | $1,235.96 |
| Hourly | $30.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Engineer salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $103,410 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for materials engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $165,600 |
| Maryland | $140,640 |
| Washington | $139,840 |
| Delaware | $131,320 |
| Louisiana | $128,670 |
| California | $128,470 |
| Illinois | $126,620 |
| New York | $125,900 |
| Colorado | $124,030 |
| Alaska | $123,360 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $97,690 | $46.96 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $97,700 | $46.97 |
| Civil Engineer | $96,430 | $46.36 |
| Electrical Engineer | $105,820 | $50.87 |
| Engineers, All Other | $103,090 | $49.56 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $81,330 | $39.10 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $106,350 | $51.13 |
| Environmental Engineer | $94,830 | $45.59 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $125,120 | $60.15 |
| Agricultural Engineer | $96,290 | $46.29 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $81,710 | $39.28 |
| Chemical Engineer | $117,590 | $56.54 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $72,540 | $34.88 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $64,220 | $30.87 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2131. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make in Iowa?
The median salary for materials engineers in Iowa is $64,270 a year, or $30.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Iowa?
The top 10% of materials engineers in Iowa earn at least $115,140 a year. The top 25% earn $98,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,390 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $62,390 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Iowa?
About 200 materials engineers are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.