Marketing Managers Salary
The median pay for a marketing managers in Iowa is $131,120/year ($63.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $203K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $147,558 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 13.4% 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 $131K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for marketing managers in Iowa runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $167K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 13.7% 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 marketing managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level marketing managers (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $203K or more, a $123K spread from bottom to top.
Marketing 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 | $141K | +8% | 370 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $135K | +3% | 950 |
| Cedar Rapids | $133K | +2% | 250 |
| Ames | $132K | +1% | 110 |
| Dubuque | $127K | -3% | 90 |
| Sioux City | $119K | -9% | 50 |
| Iowa City | $119K | -9% | 80 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $115K | -12% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track marketing managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a marketing manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 13.7% 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 marketing managers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new marketing managers typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,810/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is marketing manager a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $131K here vs. $167K 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 marketing managers?
Iowa pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $148K — below the national median.
How much do marketing managers make in Iowa?
The median is $131,120 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,160, and experienced marketing managers can clear $203,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,777/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 13.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a marketing 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 marketing managers salary is worth about $147,558 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do marketing 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.
