Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary
In Iowa, teaching assistants, except postsecondaries earn $30,510 at the median. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $34,335 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 51.1% 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 $31K get you in Iowa?
About teaching assistants, except postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in Iowa runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $37K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,064/month, which is 50.6% 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for teaching assistants, except postsecondarys.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level teaching assistants, except postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 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 | $35K | +13% | 5,140 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $35K | +13% | 2,100 |
| Cedar Rapids | $33K | +8% | 1,870 |
| Sioux City | $31K | +1% | 990 |
| Ames | $30K | -0% | 780 |
| Dubuque | $30K | -0% | 710 |
| Iowa City | $30K | -1% | 1,290 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $30K | -2% | 1,350 |
Compare to other states
Track teaching assistants, except 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 50.6% 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 $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for teaching assistants, except postsecondaries in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new teaching assistants, except postsecondaries typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,344/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 79% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is teaching assistants, except postsecondary a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $31K here vs. $37K 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondaries?
Iowa pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do teaching assistants, except postsecondaries make in Iowa?
The median is $30,510 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,400, and experienced teaching assistants, except postsecondaries can clear $37,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,101/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 50.6% 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 teaching assistants, except 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary is worth about $34,335 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do teaching assistants, except 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.