How much does a mechanical engineer make in Des Moines?
$85,490a year
Median yearly pay for mechanical engineers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $41.10 an hour or $7,124 a month.
- Hourly
- $41.10
- Vs. national median
- -18%
- Rank among cities
- 311 of 346
- Jobs in the area
- 390
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $70,770Median: $85,490Highest 10%: $133,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $70,770 | $34.02 | |
| 25th | $79,130 | $38.04 | |
| Median | $85,490 | $41.10 | |
| 75th | $105,900 | $50.93 | |
| 90th | $133,600 | $64.23 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for mechanical engineers.
| Davenport, IA | $104,300 |
| Ames, IA | $98,610 |
| Iowa City, IA | $96,190 |
| Sioux City, IA | $95,250 |
| Omaha, NE | $93,180 |
| Waterloo, IA | $88,770 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $84,630 |
Related jobs in Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Electrical Engineer | $107,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician | $105,200 |
| Engineer | $100,900 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $99,480 |
| Industrial Engineer | $98,270 |
| Architect | $97,460 |
| Civil Engineer | $97,330 |
| Environmental Engineer | $94,800 |
| Electronics Engineer | $81,330 |
| Surveyor | $78,860 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $41.10 ($85,490 a year).
Do mechanical engineers make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $85,490 against $104,100 nationally, 18% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $97,700, so Des Moines pays 12% less.
Where does Des Moines rank for mechanical engineer pay?
311 of 346 metro areas with data.
How much does a mechanical engineer make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $70,770 or less a year; the top 10% make $133,600 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.