Buyers and Purchasing Agents Salary
In Iowa, buyers and purchasing agents earn $70,360 at the median, or about $33.83 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $79,181 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 23% 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 $70K get you in Iowa?
About buyers and purchasing agents
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Iowa
Buyers and purchasing agents pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $70K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 23.5% 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 buyers and purchasing agents (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Buyers and Purchasing Agents salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $85K | +20% | 1,320 |
| Sioux City | $74K | +6% | 200 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $74K | +5% | 1,010 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $73K | +4% | 190 |
| Ames | $69K | -2% | 180 |
| Cedar Rapids | $69K | -2% | 430 |
| Iowa City | $67K | -5% | 240 |
| Dubuque | $66K | -6% | 270 |
Compare to other states
Track buyers and purchasing agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a buyers and purchasing agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 23.5% 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 buyers and purchasing agents in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new buyers and purchasing agents typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,811/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 buyers and purchasing agent a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $70K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for buyers and purchasing agents?
Iowa pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do buyers and purchasing agents make in Iowa?
The median is $70,360 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,850, and experienced buyers and purchasing agents can clear $106,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,525/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 23.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a buyers and purchasing agents 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 buyers and purchasing agents salary is worth about $79,181 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do buyers and purchasing agents 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.