Exercise Physiologists Salary
In Iowa, exercise physiologists earn $56,640 at the median, or about $27.23 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $63,741 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 28.6% 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 $57K get you in Iowa?
About exercise physiologists
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What this looks like in Iowa
Exercise physiologists pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $57K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.5% 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 exercise physiologists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track exercise physiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a exercise physiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 28.5% 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 exercise physiologists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new exercise physiologists typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,711/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is exercise physiologist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $57K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for exercise physiologists?
Iowa pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do exercise physiologists make in Iowa?
The median is $56,640 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,190, and experienced exercise physiologists can clear $75,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,729/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 28.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a exercise physiologists 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 exercise physiologists salary is worth about $63,741 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do exercise physiologists 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.