As of July 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in Iowa is $283,617, equivalent to $136 per hour, $5,454 weekly, or $23,635 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in Iowa vary widely, spanning from $231,588 to $317,347. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($256,383) and 75th percentile ($301,273), while top earners (90th percentile) make $317,347 per year. This $44,890 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Housekeeping, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Iowa Chief Engineer often earn 4.3% lower than national averages due to demand from Fortune 73 companies. However, Iowa currently ranks 33 nationwide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $231,588 IA July 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $256,383 IA July 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $283,617 IA July 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $301,273 IA July 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $317,347 IA July 01, 2026
25% $256,383 10% $231,588 90% $317,347 75% $301,273 $283,617 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Chief Engineer ?

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and responsibility of that department. As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, he or she must have excellent communication and leadership skills. He or she will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance his or her team. To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Ackley, IA Avg. Salary $295,869 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Ackworth, IA Avg. Salary $307,390 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Adair, IA Avg. Salary $297,335 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Adel, IA Avg. Salary $306,522 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Afton, IA Avg. Salary $298,945 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Agency, IA Avg. Salary $296,173 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Ainsworth, IA Avg. Salary $296,911 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Akron, IA Avg. Salary $290,338 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Albert City, IA Avg. Salary $295,432 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Location Albia, IA Avg. Salary $298,226 Date Updated July 01, 2026
Job Openings for Chief Engineer in Iowa

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