Education Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Iowa, education teachers, postsecondaries earn $62,090 at the median. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $130K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $69,874 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 26.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $62K actually covers in Iowa, month by month
About education teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for education teachers, postsecondary in Iowa runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.2% 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 teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $130K or more, a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Education Teachers, Postsecondary salary by metro in Iowa
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $55K | -12% | 70 |
| Cedar Rapids | $49K | -22% | 40 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $48K | -23% | 100 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a education teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 26.2% 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 education teachers, postsecondaries in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new education teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,060/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 education teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $62K here vs. $75K 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 teachers, postsecondaries?
Iowa pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do education teachers, postsecondaries make in Iowa?
The median is $62,090 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,850, and experienced education teachers, postsecondaries can clear $130,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 26.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a education 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 education teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $69,874 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do education 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.