Forest and Conservation Workers Salary
Forest and Conservation Workers in Iowa make a median of $33,600 a year, or about $16.16 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $37,812 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 46.4% of take-home, which is tight.
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 $34K get you in Iowa?
About forest and conservation workers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for forest and conservation workers in Iowa runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $44K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,064/month, which is 46.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for forest and conservation workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level forest and conservation workers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track forest and conservation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a forest and conservation worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 46.3% 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 $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for forest and conservation workers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new forest and conservation workers typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,715/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is forest and conservation worker a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $34K here vs. $44K 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 forest and conservation workers?
Iowa pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $44K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do forest and conservation workers make in Iowa?
The median is $33,600 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,580, and experienced forest and conservation workers can clear $72,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,296/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 46.3% 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 forest and conservation workers 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 forest and conservation workers salary is worth about $37,812 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do forest and conservation workers 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.