Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · CBSA 19780
Mechanical Engineer Salary in Des Moines
VerifiedPublished metro-area wages for mechanical engineers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, from the BLS OEWS May 2024 release — with the local distribution set against Iowa and the national benchmark.
Mechanical Engineers in Des Moines earn a median of $88,500 per year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. The middle 50% earn $72,090–$110,620; the top 10% earn $177,080. That is 14% below the national median and 9% below the Iowa median. BLS reports 650 employed locally.
Median wage
Verified$88,500
-14% vs national
Top 10% earn
$177,080
90th percentile
Employed in metro
650
Reliability Good (6.7% RSE)
Mechanical Engineer pay — Des Moines vs Iowa vs national
All three distributions are published BLS percentiles on a single shared scale.
| Percentile | Annual wage | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / low | $59,020 | -14% |
| 25th percentile | $72,090 | -12% |
| Median50th percentile | $88,500 | -14% |
| 75th percentile | $110,620 | -15% |
| 90th percentiletop earners | $177,080 | +10% |
| Meanaverage | $100,910 | -8% |
How concentrated mechanical engineers are in Des Moines
Location quotient compares local concentration to the national rate. Above 1.00 means this metro employs the occupation more densely than the country overall.
Location quotient
0.86
Jobs per 1,000
1.60
Metro rank (pay)
#265 of 342
All engineering roles
$114,366
Des Moines employs mechanical engineers at close to the national rate (location quotient 0.86).
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Des Moines?
Does Des Moines pay more than the rest of Iowa?
Where does Des Moines rank nationally for mechanical engineers?
Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2141 (Mechanical Engineers), Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (metro area).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →