What does a Data Scientists salary really buy you in Iowa?
Iowa is 11.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Iowa's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.4, meaning prices are 11.6% lower the national average. A Data Scientists earning $96,980 in Iowa has the equivalent purchasing power of $109,705 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $55,970 | $63,314 | +$7,344 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $71,140 | $80,475 | +$9,335 |
| Median (P50) | $96,980 | $109,705 | +$12,725 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $120,060 | $135,814 | +$15,754 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $140,520 | $158,959 | +$18,439 |
A Data Scientists in Iowa earns $96,980 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $109,705 in an average-cost state. This makes Iowa one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Data Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Iowa ranks #21 out of 51 states for Data Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Data Scientists take-home pay in Iowa after taxes →
A Data Scientists in Iowa earns a median salary of $96,980 per year. After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (RPP=88.4), the real purchasing power is $109,705 — a +13.1% difference.
Iowa's cost of living is 11.6% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Iowa is 88.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Data Scientists in Iowa: $96,980 x (100 / 88.4) = $109,705. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Data Scientists in Iowa enjoys 13.1% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.