Chemists Salary
Chemists in Iowa make a median of $86,100 a year, or about $41.39 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $96,894 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 19.6% 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 $86K get you in Iowa?
About chemists
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What this looks like in Iowa
Chemists pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $86K locally vs. $91K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 19.8% 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 chemists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Iowa
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $104K | +21% | 50 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $88K | +2% | 150 |
| Ames | $84K | -2% | 40 |
| Cedar Rapids | $81K | -6% | 70 |
| Iowa City | $65K | -24% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 19.8% 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 chemists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,916/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is chemist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $86K locally vs. $91K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for chemists?
Iowa pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemists make in Iowa?
The median is $86,100 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,270, and experienced chemists can clear $137,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,373/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 19.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemists 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 chemists salary is worth about $96,894 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemists 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.