Athletic Trainers Salary
The median pay for a athletic trainers in Iowa is $55,430/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $62,379 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 29.2% 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 $55K get you in Iowa?
About athletic trainers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for athletic trainers in Iowa runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.1% 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 athletic trainers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Athletic Trainers salary by metro in Iowa
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $63K | +13% | 40 |
| Cedar Rapids | $54K | -2% | 80 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $52K | -6% | 30 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $50K | -10% | 180 |
Compare to other states
Track athletic trainers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a athletic trainer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 29.1% 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 athletic trainers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new athletic trainers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,835/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is athletic trainer a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $55K here vs. $63K 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 athletic trainers?
Iowa pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — below the national median.
How much do athletic trainers make in Iowa?
The median is $55,430 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,250, and experienced athletic trainers can clear $69,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,654/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 29.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a athletic trainers 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 athletic trainers salary is worth about $62,379 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do athletic trainers 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.