Human Resources Managers Salary
In Iowa, human resources managers earn $126,370 at the median, or about $60.76 an hour. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $207K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $142,212 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 13.9% 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 $126K get you in Iowa?
About human resources managers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for human resources managers in Iowa runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $149K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 14.1% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Iowa can be a reasonable trade-off for human resources managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $126K. Top earners bring in $207K or more, a $121K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $143K | +13% | 260 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $138K | +9% | 520 |
| Ames | $137K | +9% | 60 |
| Cedar Rapids | $130K | +3% | 160 |
| Dubuque | $130K | +3% | 70 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $126K | -0% | 80 |
| Sioux City | $125K | -1% | 60 |
| Iowa City | $118K | -7% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track human resources managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $126K, rent takes 14.1% 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 human resources managers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,171/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $126K here vs. $149K 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 human resources managers?
Iowa pays $126K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $142K — below the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Iowa?
The median is $126,370 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,190, and experienced human resources managers can clear $206,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $126K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,529/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 14.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources managers 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 human resources managers salary is worth about $142,212 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources managers 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.