Skincare Specialists Salary
The median pay for a skincare specialists in Iowa City, IA is $46,010/year ($22.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.51), which stretches that salary to about $50,279 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $962/month, about 30.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K get you in Iowa City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.51). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About skincare specialists
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What this looks like in Iowa City
Skincare specialists pay in Iowa City tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $45K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $962/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.51 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for skincare specialists in metros near Iowa City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $39K | $42K |
| Cedar Rapids | $44K | $49K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $37K | $42K |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $39K | $45K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level skincare specialists (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Skincare Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Skincare Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $79K | +75% | 2,200 |
| District of Columbia | $77K | +71% | 200 |
| Wyoming | $62K | +38% | 100 |
| Montana | $59K | +29% | 280 |
| Nebraska | $58K | +29% | 550 |
| North Dakota | $58K | +28% | 190 |
| Maine | $56K | +23% | 260 |
| Colorado | $55K | +20% | 1,510 |
| Oregon | $52K | +15% | 1,070 |
| Delaware | $51K | +12% | 130 |
| Arizona | $50K | +11% | 1,710 |
| Texas | $49K | +9% | 6,160 |
| Georgia | $49K | +7% | 2,230 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | +4% | 1,360 |
| New Mexico | $47K | +4% | 370 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | +3% | 430 |
| Maryland | $47K | +3% | 1,130 |
| Wisconsin | $46K | +2% | 1,190 |
| New Jersey | $46K | +1% | 2,660 |
| Kansas | $46K | +1% | 420 |
| Utah | $45K | +0% | 1,160 |
| Illinois | $45K | +0% | 2,960 |
| Michigan | $45K | -0% | 1,510 |
| Missouri | $45K | -0% | 1,390 |
| Indiana | $44K | -2% | 1,120 |
| Minnesota | $44K | -2% | 920 |
| Rhode Island | $44K | -3% | 120 |
| Florida | $44K | -3% | 5,270 |
| Connecticut | $44K | -4% | 660 |
| Pennsylvania | $44K | -4% | 2,560 |
| New York | $43K | -5% | 3,510 |
| Alaska | $41K | -9% | 120 |
| Mississippi | $41K | -9% | 320 |
| South Carolina | $40K | -12% | 1,210 |
| Virginia | $39K | -13% | 1,970 |
| Alabama | $39K | -13% | 590 |
| Ohio | $39K | -14% | 1,700 |
| North Carolina | $39K | -14% | 2,680 |
| California | $39K | -14% | 11,360 |
| Nevada | $39K | -15% | 1,540 |
| Kentucky | $39K | -15% | 830 |
| South Dakota | $38K | -16% | 150 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -16% | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -18% | 680 |
| Iowa | $37K | -18% | 710 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -19% | 600 |
| Tennessee | $37K | -19% | 1,710 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -19% | 340 |
| Idaho | $34K | -25% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track skincare specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a skincare specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 31.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $962/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 skincare specialists in Iowa City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new skincare specialists typically earn — is $26K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,540/month. At HUD’s $962/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is skincare specialist a high-paying job in Iowa City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $45K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Iowa City compare to the national average for skincare specialists?
Iowa City pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do skincare specialists make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $46,010 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,660, and experienced skincare specialists can clear $53,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $962/month, which eats 31.4% 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 skincare specialists salary go in Iowa City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 91.51 (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 skincare specialists salary is worth about $50,279 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do skincare 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.