Parts Salespersons Salary
The median pay for a parts salespersons in Iowa is $46,670/year ($22.44/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $52,521 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Iowa?
About parts salespersons
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for parts salespersons, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $39K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% 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 parts salespersons (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Parts Salespersons salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $49K | +5% | 880 |
| Cedar Rapids | $48K | +3% | 280 |
| Sioux City | $47K | +1% | 190 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $46K | -2% | 210 |
| Dubuque | $45K | -3% | 160 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $44K | -5% | 380 |
| Ames | $41K | -13% | 120 |
| Iowa City | $39K | -16% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track parts salespersons salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
Related careers in Sales
Frequently asked questions
Can a parts salesperson afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for parts salespersons in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new parts salespersons typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,770/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is parts salesperson a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $47K here vs. $39K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for parts salespersons?
Iowa pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do parts salespersons make in Iowa?
The median is $46,670 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,500, and experienced parts salespersons can clear $65,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,109/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 34.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a parts salespersons 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 parts salespersons salary is worth about $52,521 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do parts salespersons 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.