Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a model makers, metal and plastic in Iowa is $61,550/year ($29.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $69,266 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 26.3% 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 $62K get you in Iowa?
About model makers, metal and plastics
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What this looks like in Iowa
Model makers, metal and plastic pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.4% 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 model makers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track model makers, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model makers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 26.4% 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 model makers, metal and plastics in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new model makers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,062/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is model makers, metal and plastic a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for model makers, metal and plastics?
Iowa pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do model makers, metal and plastics make in Iowa?
The median is $61,550 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,030, and experienced model makers, metal and plastics can clear $78,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,034/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 26.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a model makers, metal and plastic 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 model makers, metal and plastic salary is worth about $69,266 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do model makers, metal and plastics 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.