Conservation Scientists Salary
Conservation Scientists in Iowa make a median of $69,240 a year, or about $33.29 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $77,920 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
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What $69K actually covers in Iowa, month by month
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What this looks like in Iowa
Conservation scientists pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $69K locally vs. $73K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 23.8% 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 conservation scientists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Conservation Scientists salary by metro in Iowa
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $77K | +11% | 100 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $70K | +1% | 40 |
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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 conservation scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 23.8% 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 conservation scientists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conservation scientists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,336/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is conservation scientist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $69K locally vs. $73K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for conservation scientists?
Iowa pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conservation scientists make in Iowa?
The median is $69,240 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,320, and experienced conservation scientists can clear $97,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,465/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 23.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a conservation scientists 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 conservation scientists salary is worth about $77,920 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do conservation scientists 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.