SOC 17-2061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Computer Hardware Engineers — Iowa
Iowa · 1 metro areas compared
In Iowa the median wage is $125,120.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Iowa the median wage is $125,120. That is 22.6% lower than the national median of $161,740. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $106,680 and $161,740. The lowest tenth earn under $77,480, while the highest tenth earn more than $187,980.
Employment stands at 130, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 41 states with published data for this occupation, Iowa ranks 24th by median wage. Cedar Rapids leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $161,160. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 39th of 711 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,480 | −52.1% |
| 25th | $106,680 | −34.0% |
| Median (50th) | $125,120 | −22.6% |
| 75th | $161,740 | +0.0% |
| 90th | $187,980 | +16.2% |
| Mean | $137,120 | −15.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids | $161,160 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $125,120 goes as far as $142,506 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$125,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$142,506US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $125,120 a year, 22.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $77,480 to $187,980 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 24th of 41 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Cedar Rapids, at $161,160.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $125,120, or $60.15 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $161,740, so pay in Iowa is 22.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Iowa earns more than $187,980 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $77,480 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Cedar Rapids, at $161,160 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Iowa. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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