Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary
In Iowa, education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares earn $47,480 at the median, or about $22.83 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $53,432 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 32.9% 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?
About education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare in Iowa runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% 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 education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | $53K | +11% | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $52K | +9% | 60 |
| Dubuque | $50K | +5% | 40 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $49K | +4% | 300 |
| Ames | $48K | +0% | 50 |
| Iowa City | $48K | +0% | 100 |
| Cedar Rapids | $47K | -0% | 80 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $46K | -3% | 70 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 33.7% 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 education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,165/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $47K here vs. $59K 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 education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares?
Iowa pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares make in Iowa?
The median is $47,480 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,080, and experienced education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares can clear $73,290. 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 $3,159/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 33.7% 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 education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare 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 education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary is worth about $53,432 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares 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.