Project Management Specialists Salary
The median pay for a project management specialists in Iowa is $96,540/year ($46.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $150K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $108,643 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 17.4% 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 $97K get you in Iowa?
About project management specialists
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What this looks like in Iowa
Project management specialists pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 17.9% 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 project management specialists (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $150K or more, a $88K spread from bottom to top.
Project Management Specialists salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque | $105K | +8% | 290 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $103K | +7% | 650 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $101K | +5% | 2,640 |
| Ames | $97K | +1% | 260 |
| Iowa City | $97K | +0% | 420 |
| Cedar Rapids | $94K | -3% | 850 |
| Sioux City | $85K | -12% | 200 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $82K | -15% | 190 |
Compare to other states
Track project management specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a project management specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 17.9% 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 project management specialists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new project management specialists typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,720/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is project management specialist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for project management specialists?
Iowa pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do project management specialists make in Iowa?
The median is $96,540 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,000, and experienced project management specialists can clear $150,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,935/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 17.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a project management 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 project management specialists salary is worth about $108,643 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do project management 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.