Database Administrators Salary
The median pay for a database administrators in Iowa City, IA is $101,580/year ($48.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $165K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.51), which stretches that salary to about $111,004 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $962/month, or 15% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Iowa City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.51). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About database administrators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Iowa City
Database administrators pay in Iowa City tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $105K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $962/month, 15.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.51 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for database administrators in metros near Iowa City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $110K | $120K |
| Cedar Rapids | $82K | $93K |
| Sioux Falls | $85K | $93K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $110K | $106K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level database administrators (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $165K or more, a $101K spread from bottom to top.
Database Administrators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Database Administrators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | $136K | +30% | 1,200 |
| Massachusetts | $129K | +24% | 2,310 |
| New Jersey | $126K | +20% | 1,810 |
| Maryland | $124K | +19% | 2,300 |
| District of Columbia | $119K | +13% | 560 |
| Colorado | $118K | +13% | 1,220 |
| Washington | $118K | +13% | 1,730 |
| Tennessee | $116K | +10% | 2,020 |
| Texas | $114K | +9% | 6,430 |
| North Carolina | $114K | +9% | 1,920 |
| California | $113K | +8% | 7,240 |
| Nevada | $110K | +5% | 380 |
| Alaska | $109K | +4% | 90 |
| Connecticut | $108K | +3% | 810 |
| Georgia | $107K | +2% | 2,460 |
| Rhode Island | $106K | +1% | 280 |
| New York | $106K | +1% | 3,590 |
| Illinois | $105K | +0% | 2,340 |
| Arizona | $104K | -0% | 1,120 |
| Vermont | $104K | -0% | 120 |
| Florida | $104K | -0% | 3,810 |
| Iowa | $101K | -3% | 360 |
| Delaware | $101K | -4% | 670 |
| Minnesota | $101K | -4% | 1,020 |
| Missouri | $100K | -4% | 1,140 |
| Oregon | $100K | -4% | 1,060 |
| Kansas | $100K | -4% | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $100K | -4% | 2,450 |
| Nebraska | $100K | -4% | 610 |
| Wisconsin | $100K | -4% | 1,220 |
| Michigan | $100K | -5% | 1,150 |
| New Mexico | $98K | -6% | 570 |
| Louisiana | $98K | -6% | 290 |
| Ohio | $97K | -7% | 1,860 |
| Oklahoma | $95K | -9% | 790 |
| Alabama | $94K | -10% | 1,840 |
| South Carolina | $94K | -10% | 990 |
| Virginia | $93K | -11% | 5,940 |
| New Hampshire | $92K | -12% | 250 |
| Indiana | $90K | -14% | 930 |
| Mississippi | $88K | -16% | 200 |
| Kentucky | $87K | -16% | 650 |
| Idaho | $86K | -18% | 180 |
| Hawaii | $86K | -18% | 100 |
| Montana | $83K | -21% | 300 |
| South Dakota | $83K | -21% | 170 |
| Arkansas | $82K | -21% | 420 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -21% | 100 |
| North Dakota | $79K | -25% | 80 |
| West Virginia | $73K | -30% | 240 |
| Maine | $71K | -33% | 260 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track database administrators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa City numbers change.
Related careers in Technology
Frequently asked questions
Can a database administrator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa City?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 15.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $962/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for database administrators in Iowa City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new database administrators typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,833/month. At HUD’s $962/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is database administrator a high-paying job in Iowa City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $105K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average for database administrators?
Iowa City pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $111K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do database administrators make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $101,580 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,880, and experienced database administrators can clear $164,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,207/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $962/month, which eats 15.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a database administrators salary go in Iowa City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 91.51 (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 database administrators salary is worth about $111,004 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do database administrators 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.