Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a sociology teachers, postsecondary in Iowa is $81,910/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $150K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $92,179 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Iowa. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $82K get you in Iowa?
About sociology teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Iowa
Sociology teachers, postsecondary pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $82K locally vs. $84K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 20.7% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level sociology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $150K or more, a $101K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track sociology teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sociology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 20.7% 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 sociology teachers, postsecondaries in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sociology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,968/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is sociology teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $84K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for sociology teachers, postsecondaries?
Iowa pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $84K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sociology teachers, postsecondaries make in Iowa?
The median is $81,910 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,460, and experienced sociology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $150,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,147/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 20.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a sociology teachers, postsecondary 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 sociology teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $92,179 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sociology teachers, postsecondaries 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.