Civil Engineer Salary in Iowa: $88K Median

The average Civil Engineer salary in Iowa is $88,219 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $59,800 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $133,041 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.

Civil Engineers in Iowa earn approximately 8% less than the US national median ($95,890 nationally vs $88,219 in Iowa). Iowa's cost-of-living index of 90 amplifies the real purchasing power.

Yes — Civil Engineer salaries in Iowa grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $15,477 in 2025 to $88,219 in 2026. This reflects the broader Engineering sector's wage growth, driven by BIM (Revit) and Sustainability/LEED demand.

Iowa has no major metros in our database — fallback to the closest tracked city for detailed breakdowns.

Civil engineering growing 6% with $1.2T US infrastructure investment driving demand through 2034. Iowa's top industries include Agriculture, Insurance, Manufacturing, and the state's unemployment rate is 3% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.

Yes, Iowa has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $88,219, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.

Hottest 2026 skills: BIM (Revit), Sustainability/LEED, Climate-resilient design, Smart cities, Drone surveying. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Iowa employers.

With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus. Beyond base, negotiate: PE license exam fees, study materials, review courses, Relocation package and temporary housing, Project-completion or milestone bonuses, Per-diem for site travel and field work. Walk-away anchor for Iowa: $78,767.