Hydrologists Salary
In Iowa, hydrologists earn $81,150 at the median, or about $39.02 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $91,323 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.7% 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 $81K get you in Iowa?
About hydrologists
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for hydrologists in Iowa runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $97K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 20.8% 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 hydrologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level hydrologists (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track hydrologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a hydrologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 20.8% 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 hydrologists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new hydrologists typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,971/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is hydrologist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $81K here vs. $97K 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 hydrologists?
Iowa pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $97K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — below the national median.
How much do hydrologists make in Iowa?
The median is $81,150 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,180, and experienced hydrologists can clear $136,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,106/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 20.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a hydrologists 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 hydrologists salary is worth about $91,323 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do hydrologists 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.