How to Become an Agricultural Engineer in Iowa: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does an agricultural engineer make in Iowa?"

"The median annual wage for agricultural engineers in Iowa is $96,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 2% below the national median of $98,590."

Q: "How do I become an agricultural engineer in Iowa?"

"The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in agricultural or biological engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for public-works and consulting sign-off. See the steps below."

Q: "How many agricultural engineers work in Iowa?"

"BLS counts about 100 agricultural engineers employed in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Iowa agricultural engineers earn a median annual wage of $96,290 ($46.29/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 100 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.3% below the national median of $98,590 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $96,290 ($46.29/hr)
25th percentile: $88,670 per year
75th percentile: $135,980 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $155,760 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $83,470 per year
Workers employed in Iowa: 100
Versus national median: -2.3% below the U.S. median of $98,590
Job concentration: Location quotient 6.56 - this occupation is more concentrated in Iowa than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median agricultural engineer salary in Iowa is $96,290 per year - 2% below the national median of $98,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in agricultural or biological engineering.

Agricultural Engineer Salary in Iowa

Wage level	Annual salary
Iowa entry level (10th percentile)	$83,470
Iowa 25th-75th percentile	$88,670 - $135,980
Iowa median	$96,290
Iowa top earners (90th percentile)	$155,760
U.S. median	$98,590

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 100.

The Iowa Job Market: Agricultural Engineer

Metric	Value
Employed in Iowa	100
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.06
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	6.56
Mean annual wage in Iowa	$108,960

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 6.56, Iowa employs agricultural engineers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.

Requirements in Iowa

The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in agricultural or biological engineering - while licensing runs through Iowa’s own boards: PE license for public-works and consulting sign-off. Verify current requirements with the Iowa licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become an Agricultural Engineer.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile - Agricultural Engineers

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Agricultural Engineers annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$68,060
25th	$82,260
50th (median)	$98,590
75th	$124,880
90th	$166,460

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Agricultural Engineers, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Agricultural Engineers employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	1,700
2034 projected	1,800
Percent change	+5.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an agricultural engineer make in Iowa?

The median annual wage for agricultural engineers in Iowa is $96,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 2% below the national median of $98,590.

How do I become an agricultural engineer in Iowa?

The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in agricultural or biological engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license for public-works and consulting sign-off. See the steps below.

How many agricultural engineers work in Iowa?

BLS counts about 100 agricultural engineers employed in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Agricultural Engineer in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Agricultural Engineers (SOC 17-2021), Iowa and national
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)