Labor Relations Specialists Salary
Labor Relations Specialists in Iowa make a median of $79,140 a year, or about $38.05 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $152K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $89,061 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.5% 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 $79K get you in Iowa?
About labor relations specialists
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for labor relations specialists in Iowa runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $95K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 21.3% 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 labor relations specialistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level labor relations specialists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $152K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Labor Relations Specialists salary by metro in Iowa
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $97K | +22% | 170 |
| Dubuque | $89K | +13% | 40 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $82K | +4% | 220 |
| Cedar Rapids | $80K | +1% | 60 |
| Sioux City | $79K | -0% | 40 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $77K | -3% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track labor relations 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 labor relations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 21.3% 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 labor relations specialists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new labor relations specialists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,661/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is labor relations specialist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $79K here vs. $95K 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 labor relations specialists?
Iowa pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $95K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — below the national median.
How much do labor relations specialists make in Iowa?
The median is $79,140 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,020, and experienced labor relations specialists can clear $151,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,998/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 21.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a labor relations 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 labor relations specialists salary is worth about $89,061 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do labor relations 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.