Salary guide, May 2025
Controls Engineer pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA was $107,040 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $90,990 and $129,600.
The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median is $13,590 below the national median of $120,630, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
What should you know about des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $77,790 | $90,990 | $107,040 | $129,600 | $153,800 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $37.40 | $43.75 | $51.46 | $62.31 | $73.94 |
BLS estimated 280 workers employed in this occupation in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Location quotient: 0.54.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $76,550 | $92,830 | $120,630 | $152,950 | $184,300 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36.80 | $44.63 | $58.00 | $73.53 | $88.61 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Controls Engineer median is $107,040. The all-occupations median in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $51,820. Ratio: 2.07 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.54 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $104,400 | $110,350 | $137,460 |
| May 2025 | $90,990 | $107,040 | $129,600 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | $103,750 | $83,160 to $127,760 |
| Iowa City, IA | $107,000 | $99,750 to $128,430 |
All roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · National page · Controls Engineer ranked across metros