Natural Sciences Managers Salary
In Iowa, natural sciences managers earn $109,760 at the median, or about $52.77 an hour. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $201K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $123,520 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 15.3% 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 $110K get you in Iowa?
About natural sciences managers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for natural sciences managers in Iowa runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $167K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 16% 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 natural sciences managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level natural sciences managers (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $110K. Top earners bring in $201K or more, a $126K spread from bottom to top.
Natural Sciences Managers salary by metro in Iowa
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $125K | +14% | 40 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $119K | +8% | N/A |
| Ames | $117K | +6% | 90 |
| Cedar Rapids | $102K | -7% | 40 |
| Iowa City | $100K | -9% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track natural sciences managers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a natural sciences manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $110K, rent takes 16% 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 natural sciences managers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new natural sciences managers typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,459/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is natural sciences manager a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $110K 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 natural sciences managers?
Iowa pays $110K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $124K — below the national median.
How much do natural sciences managers make in Iowa?
The median is $109,760 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,320, and experienced natural sciences managers can clear $200,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $110K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,648/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 16% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a natural sciences 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 natural sciences managers salary is worth about $123,520 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do natural sciences 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.