How to Become a Biomedical Engineer in Iowa: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does a biomedical engineer make in Iowa?"

"The median annual wage for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Iowa is $81,710 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 25% below the national median of $109,370."

Q: "How do I become a biomedical engineer in Iowa?"

"The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in biomedical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: No license for most roles. See the steps below."

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

"BLS counts about 90 bioengineers and biomedical engineers employed in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Iowa bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn a median annual wage of $81,710 ($39.28/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 90 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -25.3% below the national median of $109,370 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $81,710 ($39.28/hr)
25th percentile: $76,330 per year
75th percentile: $108,680 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $135,370 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $62,080 per year
Workers employed in Iowa: 90
Versus national median: -25.3% below the U.S. median of $109,370
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.37 - this occupation is less 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 biomedical engineer salary in Iowa is $81,710 per year - 25% below the national median of $109,370 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in biomedical engineering.

Biomedical Engineer Salary in Iowa

Wage level	Annual salary
Iowa entry level (10th percentile)	$62,080
Iowa 25th-75th percentile	$76,330 - $108,680
Iowa median	$81,710
Iowa top earners (90th percentile)	$135,370
U.S. median	$109,370

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 90.

The Iowa Job Market: Biomedical Engineer

Metric	Value
Employed in Iowa	90
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.06
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	0.37
Mean annual wage in Iowa	$93,790

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.37, Iowa employs biomedical engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.

Requirements in Iowa

The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in biomedical engineering - while licensing runs through Iowa’s own boards: No license for most roles. 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 a Biomedical Engineer.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile - Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$71,850
25th	$86,980
50th (median)	$109,370
75th	$136,600
90th	$168,180

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	22,200
2034 projected	23,300
Percent change	+5.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a biomedical engineer make in Iowa?

The median annual wage for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Iowa is $81,710 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 25% below the national median of $109,370.

How do I become a biomedical engineer in Iowa?

The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in biomedical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: No license for most roles. See the steps below.

How many biomedical engineers work in Iowa?

BLS counts about 90 bioengineers and biomedical engineers employed in Iowa (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Biomedical Engineer in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (SOC 17-2031), 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)