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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optimization Engineer in Iowa is $84,366 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.
However, an Optimization Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Optimization Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $91,641 | $7,637 | $1,762 | $44 |
| Average | $84,366 | $7,030 | $1,622 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $77,840 | $6,487 | $1,497 | $37 |
Drax - WISNER, LA
Drax - STANDARD, LA
Drax - SWARTZ, LA
Drax - GIBSLAND, LA
An Optimization Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Optimization Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Optimizat... Level Optimization Engineer | $83,831 |
| Process E... Level Optimization Engineer | $96,076 |
| Process E... Level Optimization Engineer | $106,643 |
| Process E... Level Optimization Engineer | $130,355 |
| Process E... Level Optimization Engineer | $113,723 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Optimization Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For Optimization Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Optimization Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Optimization Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $101,239 | $49.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $97,021 | $47.0 | 15% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $92,803 | $45.0 | 10% |
| Software & Networking | $92,803 | $45.0 | 10% |
| Telecom | $92,803 | $45.0 | 10% |
Understanding how an Optimization Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $91,641 | $7,637 | $1,762 | $44 |
| Average | $84,366 | $7,030 | $1,622 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $77,840 | $6,487 | $1,497 | $37 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Optimization Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Drax
SHELTON, LA
Drax | SHELTON, LA
Drax seeks a Plant and Value Chain Optimization Director to maximize performance across its energy generation and supply operations. Reporting into Executi... more
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Drax
LILLIE, LA
Drax | LILLIE, LA
As Plant and Value Chain Optimization Director at Drax, you will lead end-to-end optimization of our generation plants and integrated value chain, from fue... more
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Drax
GILBERT, LA
Drax | GILBERT, LA
As Plant and Value Chain Optimization Director at Drax, you will lead end-to-end performance optimization across our generation assets and energy value cha... more
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Drax
UNIONVILLE, LA
Drax | UNIONVILLE, LA
Drax is seeking a Plant and Value Chain Optimization Director to lead performance and efficiency improvements across our energy manufacturing and productio... more
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Drax
DEAN CHAPEL, LA
Drax | DEAN CHAPEL, LA
As Plant and Value Chain Optimization Director at Drax, you will own the strategy and execution that maximizes efficiency, reliability, and sustainability ... more
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Drax
DELHI, LA
Drax | DELHI, LA
Drax seeks a Plant and Value Chain Optimization Director to drive sustainable performance across our energy manufacturing operations. In this leadership ro... more
13 Days Ago
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