Accountants and Auditors Salary
The median pay for a accountants and auditors in Iowa is $77,440/year ($37.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $87,148 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Iowa?
About accountants and auditors
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What this looks like in Iowa
Accountants and auditors pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $84K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 21.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level accountants and auditors (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Accountants and Auditors salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $79K | +2% | 530 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $79K | +2% | 4,850 |
| Sioux City | $79K | +2% | 520 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $78K | +0% | 1,560 |
| Cedar Rapids | $77K | -0% | 1,190 |
| Iowa City | $75K | -3% | 790 |
| Dubuque | $74K | -4% | 450 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $74K | -5% | 540 |
Compare to other states
Track accountants and auditors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a accountants and auditor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 21.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for accountants and auditors in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new accountants and auditors typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,085/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is accountants and auditor a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $84K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for accountants and auditors?
Iowa pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $84K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do accountants and auditors make in Iowa?
The median is $77,440 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,420, and experienced accountants and auditors can clear $123,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,906/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 21.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a accountants and auditors salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median accountants and auditors salary is worth about $87,148 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do accountants and auditors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.