Social and Human Service Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social and human service assistants in Iowa is $42,480/year ($20.42/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $47,806 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Iowa?
About social and human service assistants
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What this looks like in Iowa
Social and human service assistants pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,064/month, which is 37.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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 social and human service assistants (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Social and Human Service Assistants salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $46K | +8% | 1,370 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $44K | +4% | 160 |
| Sioux City | $42K | -2% | 280 |
| Dubuque | $41K | -3% | 160 |
| Iowa City | $40K | -6% | 430 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $40K | -6% | 510 |
| Ames | $38K | -10% | 180 |
| Cedar Rapids | $37K | -12% | 700 |
Compare to other states
Track social and human service assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social and human service assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 37.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/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 social and human service assistants in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social and human service assistants typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,984/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 54% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social and human service assistant a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for social and human service assistants?
Iowa pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do social and human service assistants make in Iowa?
The median is $42,480 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,060, and experienced social and human service assistants can clear $60,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,848/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 37.4% 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 social and human service assistants 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 social and human service assistants salary is worth about $47,806 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social and human service assistants 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.