Architects, Except Landscape and Naval Salary
The median pay for a architects, except landscape and naval in Iowa is $96,810/year ($46.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $153K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $108,947 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 17.4% 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 $97K get you in Iowa?
About architects, except landscape and navals
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What this looks like in Iowa
Architects, except landscape and naval pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $99K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 17.9% 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 architects, except landscape and navals (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $153K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary by metro in Iowa
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $99K | +2% | 50 |
| Iowa City | $98K | +1% | 60 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $97K | +1% | 310 |
| Ames | $96K | -1% | 30 |
| Cedar Rapids | $94K | -3% | 60 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $94K | -3% | 40 |
| Dubuque | $88K | -9% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track architects, except landscape and naval salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a architects, except landscape and naval afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 17.9% 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 architects, except landscape and navals in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new architects, except landscape and navals typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,646/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is architects, except landscape and naval a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $99K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for architects, except landscape and navals?
Iowa pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do architects, except landscape and navals make in Iowa?
The median is $96,810 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,760, and experienced architects, except landscape and navals can clear $153,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,950/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 17.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a architects, except landscape and naval 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 architects, except landscape and naval salary is worth about $108,947 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do architects, except landscape and navals 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.