Survey Researchers Salary
The median pay for a survey researchers in Iowa is $83,170/year ($39.99/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $93,597 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.2% 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 $83K get you in Iowa?
About survey researchers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for survey researchers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $69K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 20.4% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Iowa offers a genuinely strong financial position for survey researcherss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level survey researchers (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track survey researchers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a survey researcher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 20.4% 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 survey researchers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new survey researchers typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,461/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is survey researcher a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $83K here vs. $69K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for survey researchers?
Iowa pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do survey researchers make in Iowa?
The median is $83,170 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,350, and experienced survey researchers can clear $93,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,215/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 20.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a survey researchers 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 survey researchers salary is worth about $93,597 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do survey researchers 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.