Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers Salary
The median pay for a jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in Iowa is $50,280/year ($24.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $56,583 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 32.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Iowa?
About jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $50K locally vs. $53K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level jewelers and precious stone and metal workers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $57K | +13% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a jewelers and precious stone and metal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 31.9% 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 $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new jewelers and precious stone and metal workers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,242/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is jewelers and precious stone and metal worker a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $50K locally vs. $53K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers?
Iowa pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do jewelers and precious stone and metal workers make in Iowa?
The median is $50,280 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,370, and experienced jewelers and precious stone and metal workers can clear $69,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,333/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 31.9% 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 jewelers and precious stone and metal 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 jewelers and precious stone and metal workers salary is worth about $56,583 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do jewelers and precious stone and metal 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.