Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondaries in Iowa make a median of $79,880 a year. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $89,894 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.3% 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 $80K get you in Iowa?
About foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Iowa
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $79K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 21.1% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track foreign language and literature 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 21.1% 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,748/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $79K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries?
Iowa pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries make in Iowa?
The median is $79,880 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,470, and experienced foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondaries can clear $153,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,038/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 21.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a foreign language and literature 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $89,894 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do foreign language and literature 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.