Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Salary
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Iowa make a median of $58,440 a year, or about $28.09 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $65,766 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 27.7% 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 $58K get you in Iowa?
About librarians and media collections specialists
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for librarians and media collections specialists in Iowa runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level librarians and media collections specialists (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $55K spread from bottom to top.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary by metro in Iowa
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $78K | +33% | 170 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $76K | +30% | 280 |
| Cedar Rapids | $64K | +9% | 140 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $63K | +8% | 80 |
| Ames | $61K | +4% | 90 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $57K | -3% | 200 |
| Sioux City | $51K | -13% | 50 |
Compare to other states
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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 librarians and media collections specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 27.7% 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 librarians and media collections specialists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new librarians and media collections specialists typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,897/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is librarians and media collections specialist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $58K here vs. $68K 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 librarians and media collections specialists?
Iowa pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make in Iowa?
The median is $58,440 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,620, and experienced librarians and media collections specialists can clear $86,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,841/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 27.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a librarians and media collections 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 librarians and media collections specialists salary is worth about $65,766 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do librarians and media collections 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.