Pharmacists Salary
The median pay for a pharmacists in Iowa is $138,860/year ($66.76/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $117K at the entry level to $165K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $156,268 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 12.6% 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 $139K get you in Iowa?
About pharmacists
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pharmacists pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $139K locally vs. $141K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 13% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level pharmacists (10th percentile) start around $117K. Mid-career wages sit at $139K. Top earners bring in $165K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Pharmacists salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque | $145K | +5% | 140 |
| Iowa City | $143K | +3% | 450 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $141K | +2% | 850 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $141K | +1% | 300 |
| Ames | $140K | +1% | 70 |
| Sioux City | $140K | +1% | 120 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $139K | -0% | 160 |
| Cedar Rapids | $134K | -4% | 240 |
Compare to other states
Track pharmacists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $139K, rent takes 13% 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 pharmacists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacists typically earn — is $117K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,047/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 15% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pharmacist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $139K locally vs. $141K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for pharmacists?
Iowa pays $139K median vs. the U.S. average of $141K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $156K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pharmacists make in Iowa?
The median is $138,860 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $117,450, and experienced pharmacists can clear $164,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $139K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,181/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 13% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a pharmacists 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 pharmacists salary is worth about $156,268 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do pharmacists 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.