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Can You Afford a 2-Bedroom in Iowa? The Salary Math.

We use a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,064/month as a proxy for the 2-bedroom in Iowa. To keep rent under 30% of take-home, you need at least $54,000/year before taxes.Iowa is a statewide aggregate. Showing the state-level 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,064/month as a proxy for the 2-bedroom.

Iowa is a statewide aggregate. Showing the state-level 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,064/month as a proxy for the 2-bedroom.

Salary thresholds at the HUD FMR of $1,064/month

Rent burden based on estimated take-home after federal, state, and FICA taxes (single filer). Verdict uses 30% rule.

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly take-homeRent burdenVerdict
Entry-level (10th pct.)$45,400$3,03035.1%Stretch
Early career (25th pct.)$45,450$3,03335.1%Stretch
Median$102,980$6,28216.9%Comfortable
Experienced (75th pct.)$108,460$6,57816.2%Comfortable
Top earners (90th pct.)$128,490$7,64013.9%Comfortable

Verdict guide: Comfortable <25% | OK 25-30% | Stretch 30-40% | Too much >40%

Jobs that pay enough to afford a 2-Bedroom in Iowa

These occupations have median salaries that keep rent under 30% of take-home.

Power Distributors and Dispatchers
$102,980/yr median
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
$55,160/yr median
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers
$64,390/yr median
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
$61,110/yr median
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
$77,400/yr median
Carpet Installers
$55,920/yr median
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
$63,540/yr median
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
$79,090/yr median

Keep exploring Iowa

Top paying jobs in IowaCost of living in IowaCan you afford a 1-bedroom?Can you afford a 3-bedroom?

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to afford a 2-bedroom in Iowa?
You need roughly $54,000/year gross to keep a 2-bedroom at $1,064/month under the 30% rent burden threshold. That uses current federal and IA state tax brackets with FICA, assuming single filing and the standard deduction.
How much is the HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Iowa?
HUD publishes Fair Market Rents at the metro level, not for Iowa as a whole. We use the statewide 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,064/month as a proxy.
Is Iowa expensive for renters?
Iowa is below the national average in cost. A 2-bedroom at the HUD FMR of $1,064/month is more manageable here than in most metros.
What percentage of income should go to rent?
The standard guideline is 30% of your gross monthly income before taxes. Go above that and you risk being "rent-burdened," which the Census Bureau defines as spending more than 30% of income on housing costs. Budget carefully if your rent burden sits above 40%.
Which jobs pay enough to afford rent in Iowa?
The following occupations in Iowa have median salaries that keep 2-bedroom rent under 30% of take-home pay: Power Distributors and Dispatchers, Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles, Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers, Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators, Structural Iron and Steel Workers, Carpet Installers, Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage.

Source data is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies. AffordMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Per BLS policy, "BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov."

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