Psychiatrists Salary
The median pay for a psychiatrists in Iowa is $295,270/year ($141.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $428K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $332,287 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 6.3% 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 $295K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Psychiatrists pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $295K locally vs. $282K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 6.5% 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 psychiatrists (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $295K. Top earners bring in $428K or more, a $350K spread from bottom to top.
Psychiatrists salary by metro in Iowa
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $358K | +21% | 50 |
| Iowa City | $162K | -45% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track psychiatrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a psychiatrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $295K, rent takes 6.5% 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 psychiatrists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychiatrists typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,639/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is psychiatrist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $295K locally vs. $282K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for psychiatrists?
Iowa pays $295K median vs. the U.S. average of $282K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $332K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do psychiatrists make in Iowa?
The median is $295,270 a year, that works out to about $142 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,320, and experienced psychiatrists can clear $427,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $295K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $16,264/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 6.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a psychiatrists 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 psychiatrists salary is worth about $332,287 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do psychiatrists 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.