Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Iowa, economics teachers, postsecondaries earn $85,090 at the median. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $95,757 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 19.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Iowa. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $85K get you in Iowa?
About economics teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for economics teachers, postsecondary in Iowa runs about 31% below the U.S. median of $124K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 20% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Iowa can be a reasonable trade-off for economics teachers, postsecondarys who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level economics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track economics teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a economics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 20% 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 economics teachers, postsecondaries in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,827/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is economics teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 31% below the national median — $85K here vs. $124K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for economics teachers, postsecondaries?
Iowa pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $124K — that’s -31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — below the national median.
How much do economics teachers, postsecondaries make in Iowa?
The median is $85,090 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,790, and experienced economics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $136,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,318/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 20% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a economics teachers, postsecondary 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 economics teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $95,757 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do economics teachers, postsecondaries 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.