Chief Executives Salary
Chief Executives in Iowa make a median of $211,190 a year, or about $101.54 an hour. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $365K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $237,666 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 8.5% 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 $211K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Chief executives pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $211K locally vs. $214K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 8.8% 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 chief executives (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $211K. Top earners bring in $365K or more, a $279K spread from bottom to top.
Chief Executives salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $291K | +38% | 1,230 |
| Sioux City | $221K | +4% | 130 |
| Dubuque | $213K | +1% | 100 |
| Ames | $206K | -2% | 110 |
| Iowa City | $205K | -3% | 110 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $205K | -3% | 200 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $199K | -6% | 110 |
| Cedar Rapids | $182K | -14% | 290 |
Compare to other states
Track chief executives salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chief executif afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $211K, rent takes 8.8% 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 chief executives in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chief executives typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,165/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is chief executif a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $211K locally vs. $214K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for chief executives?
Iowa pays $211K median vs. the U.S. average of $214K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $238K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chief executives make in Iowa?
The median is $211,190 a year, that works out to about $102 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,090, and experienced chief executives can clear $365,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $211K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,130/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 8.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chief executives 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 chief executives salary is worth about $237,666 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chief executives 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.