Health Education Specialists Salary
In Iowa, health education specialists earn $75,750 at the median, or about $36.42 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $85,246 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Iowa?
About health education specialists
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for health education specialists, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 22.1% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Iowa offers a genuinely strong financial position for health education specialistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level health education specialists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Health Education Specialists salary by metro in Iowa
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $76K | +0% | 220 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $55K | -28% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track health education specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a health education specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 22.1% 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 health education specialists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new health education specialists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,787/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is health education specialist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $76K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for health education specialists?
Iowa pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do health education specialists make in Iowa?
The median is $75,750 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,450, and experienced health education specialists can clear $95,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,815/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 22.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a health education specialists 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 health education specialists salary is worth about $85,246 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do health education specialists 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.