Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists Salary
The median pay for a probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in Iowa is $77,390/year ($37.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $87,092 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.9% 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 $77K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $66K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 21.7% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Iowa offers a genuinely strong financial position for probation officers and correctional treatment specialistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level probation officers and correctional treatment specialists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists salary by metro in Iowa
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $90K | +17% | 80 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $79K | +3% | 220 |
| Cedar Rapids | $77K | -0% | 160 |
| Sioux City | $68K | -12% | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $66K | -15% | 130 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a probation officers and correctional treatment specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 21.7% 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 probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new probation officers and correctional treatment specialists typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,445/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is probation officers and correctional treatment specialist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $77K here vs. $66K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists?
Iowa pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do probation officers and correctional treatment specialists make in Iowa?
The median is $77,390 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,410, and experienced probation officers and correctional treatment specialists can clear $94,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,904/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 21.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a probation officers and correctional treatment specialists 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 probation officers and correctional treatment specialists salary is worth about $87,092 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do probation officers and correctional treatment specialists 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.