Biological Scientists, All Other Salary
In Iowa City, IA, biological scientists, all others earn $80,100 at the median, or about $38.51 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.51), which stretches that salary to about $87,531 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $962/month, or 19% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $80K get you in Iowa City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.51). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About biological scientists, all others
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What this looks like in Iowa City
Pay for biological scientists, all other in Iowa City runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $99K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $962/month, 19% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.51 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Iowa City can be a reasonable trade-off for biological scientists, all others who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for biological scientists, all others in metros near Iowa City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Ames | $83K | $93K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $99K | $108K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $83K | $93K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $86K | $83K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level biological scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Biological Scientists, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Biological Scientists, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $122K | +23% | 4,970 |
| California | $114K | +15% | 11,880 |
| Delaware | $113K | +15% | N/A |
| Connecticut | $112K | +13% | 170 |
| Washington | $108K | +9% | 2,620 |
| Massachusetts | $107K | +8% | 2,930 |
| Alaska | $107K | +8% | 370 |
| New Jersey | $105K | +6% | 540 |
| Maine | $105K | +6% | 340 |
| New York | $104K | +5% | 2,520 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | +3% | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $101K | +2% | 1,810 |
| North Carolina | $100K | +1% | 2,780 |
| Georgia | $97K | -2% | 1,230 |
| Virginia | $96K | -3% | 1,650 |
| Hawaii | $96K | -3% | 370 |
| Ohio | $96K | -3% | 610 |
| Colorado | $94K | -5% | 850 |
| Utah | $93K | -6% | 590 |
| South Carolina | $92K | -7% | 240 |
| Wyoming | $92K | -7% | 170 |
| Montana | $92K | -7% | 550 |
| Mississippi | $91K | -8% | 320 |
| Arizona | $90K | -9% | 760 |
| Alabama | $87K | -12% | 340 |
| Oregon | $86K | -13% | 700 |
| West Virginia | $85K | -14% | 230 |
| District of Columbia | $85K | -14% | 850 |
| Indiana | $85K | -15% | 640 |
| New Mexico | $84K | -15% | 420 |
| Florida | $84K | -15% | 1,920 |
| New Hampshire | $84K | -15% | 310 |
| Idaho | $83K | -16% | 430 |
| Nebraska | $83K | -16% | 240 |
| Iowa | $83K | -16% | 550 |
| Illinois | $83K | -16% | 1,300 |
| Michigan | $82K | -18% | 860 |
| Texas | $81K | -18% | 2,480 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -19% | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $80K | -19% | 300 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -20% | 260 |
| Wisconsin | $78K | -21% | 740 |
| Vermont | $78K | -21% | 90 |
| Minnesota | $76K | -23% | 750 |
| Arkansas | $76K | -23% | 360 |
| Kansas | $76K | -23% | 760 |
| Nevada | $74K | -25% | 410 |
| South Dakota | $74K | -25% | 170 |
| Louisiana | $70K | -30% | 580 |
| Missouri | $63K | -36% | 1,120 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track biological scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a biological scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa City?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 19% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $962/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biological scientists, all others in Iowa City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biological scientists, all others typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,885/month. At HUD’s $962/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is biological scientists, all other a high-paying job in Iowa City?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $80K here vs. $99K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average for biological scientists, all others?
Iowa City pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do biological scientists, all others make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $80,100 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,750, and experienced biological scientists, all others can clear $115,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,050/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $962/month, which eats 19% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a biological scientists, all other salary go in Iowa City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 91.51 (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 biological scientists, all other salary is worth about $87,531 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biological scientists, all others 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.