Airfield Operations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a airfield operations specialists in Iowa is $48,870/year ($23.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $18K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $54,997 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 31.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Iowa. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $49K get you in Iowa?
About airfield operations specialists
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for airfield operations specialists in Iowa runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $57K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.8% 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 airfield operations specialists (10th percentile) start around $18K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track airfield operations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a airfield operations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 32.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for airfield operations specialists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new airfield operations specialists typically earn — is $18K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,099/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 97% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is airfield operations specialist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $49K here vs. $57K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for airfield operations specialists?
Iowa pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $57K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do airfield operations specialists make in Iowa?
The median is $48,870 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $18,320, and experienced airfield operations specialists can clear $62,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,245/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 32.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a airfield operations specialists 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 airfield operations specialists salary is worth about $54,997 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do airfield operations specialists 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.