Counselors, All Other Salary
Counselors, All Others in Iowa make a median of $61,080 a year, or about $29.36 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $68,737 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 26.5% 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 $61K get you in Iowa?
About counselors, all others
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for counselors, all other, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.6% 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 counselors, all others (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Counselors, All Other salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $73K | +20% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track counselors, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a counselors, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 26.6% 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 counselors, all others in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new counselors, all others typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,046/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is counselors, all other a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $61K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for counselors, all others?
Iowa pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do counselors, all others make in Iowa?
The median is $61,080 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,100, and experienced counselors, all others can clear $93,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,005/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 26.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a counselors, all other 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 counselors, all other salary is worth about $68,737 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do counselors, all others 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.