Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance Salary
The median pay for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance in Iowa is $47,000/year ($22.6/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $52,892 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 33.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $52K | +10% | 70 |
| Dubuque | $51K | +9% | 60 |
| Cedar Rapids | $50K | +6% | 110 |
| Ames | $49K | +4% | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $48K | +2% | 210 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $46K | -3% | 70 |
| Sioux City | $45K | -5% | 90 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $45K | -5% | 510 |
Compare to other states
Track dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,218/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances?
Iowa pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances make in Iowa?
The median is $47,000 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,960, and experienced dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances can clear $75,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,129/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 34% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance 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 dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary is worth about $52,892 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances 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.