Sound Engineering Technicians Salary
The median pay for a sound engineering technicians in Iowa is $57,400/year ($27.6/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $64,596 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 28.2% 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 $57K get you in Iowa?
About sound engineering technicians
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for sound engineering technicians in Iowa runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $73K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 sound engineering technicians (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Sound Engineering Technicians salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $57K | +0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track sound engineering technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sound engineering technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 28.2% 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 sound engineering technicians in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sound engineering technicians typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,937/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is sound engineering technician a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $57K here vs. $73K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for sound engineering technicians?
Iowa pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do sound engineering technicians make in Iowa?
The median is $57,400 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,280, and experienced sound engineering technicians can clear $62,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,776/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 28.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a sound engineering technicians 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 sound engineering technicians salary is worth about $64,596 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sound engineering technicians 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.