Agricultural Technicians Salary
The median pay for a agricultural technicians in Iowa is $64,070/year ($30.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $72,102 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 25.3% 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 $64K get you in Iowa?
About agricultural technicians
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for agricultural technicians, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 agricultural technicians (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Agricultural Technicians salary by metro in Iowa
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $65K | +2% | N/A |
| Iowa City | $60K | -7% | 70 |
| Ames | $48K | -24% | 140 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $44K | -31% | 40 |
| Cedar Rapids | $40K | -37% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track agricultural technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 25.4% 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 agricultural technicians in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural technicians typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,084/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is agricultural technician a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $64K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for agricultural technicians?
Iowa pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do agricultural technicians make in Iowa?
The median is $64,070 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,730, and experienced agricultural technicians can clear $82,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,186/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 25.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a agricultural technicians 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 agricultural technicians salary is worth about $72,102 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do agricultural technicians 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.