How much does a mechanical engineer make in Waterloo?
$88,770a year
Median yearly pay for mechanical engineers in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area. That is $42.68 an hour or $7,398 a month.
- Hourly
- $42.68
- Vs. national median
- -15%
- Rank among cities
- 303 of 346
- Jobs in the area
- 190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $65,750Median: $88,770Highest 10%: $130,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,750 | $31.61 | |
| 25th | $78,360 | $37.67 | |
| Median | $88,770 | $42.68 | |
| 75th | $112,100 | $53.89 | |
| 90th | $130,600 | $62.77 |
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 |
| Des Moines, IA | $85,490 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $84,630 |
Related jobs in Waterloo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Civil Engineer | $97,430 |
| Industrial Engineer | $92,330 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make an hour in Waterloo?
The median hourly pay in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $42.68 ($88,770 a year).
Do mechanical engineers make more in Waterloo than the national average?
No: $88,770 against $104,100 nationally, 15% less.
How does Waterloo compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $97,700, so Waterloo pays 9% less.
Where does Waterloo rank for mechanical engineer pay?
303 of 346 metro areas with data.
How much does a mechanical engineer make starting out in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $65,750 or less a year; the top 10% make $130,600 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.