Biological Technicians Salary
In Iowa, biological technicians earn $48,050 at the median, or about $23.1 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $54,074 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 32.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $48K actually covers in Iowa, month by month
About biological technicians
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for biological technicians in Iowa runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $58K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.3% 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 biological technicians (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Biological Technicians salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $48K | +0% | 520 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a biological technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 33.3% 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 biological technicians in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biological technicians typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,651/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is biological technician a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $48K here vs. $58K 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 biological technicians?
Iowa pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do biological technicians make in Iowa?
The median is $48,050 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,310, and experienced biological technicians can clear $72,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,194/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 33.3% 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 biological 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 biological technicians salary is worth about $54,074 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biological 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.