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What does a Economists salary really buy you in Iowa?
Iowa is 11.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Iowa's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.4, meaning prices are 11.6% lower the national average. A Economists earning $96,310 in Iowa has the equivalent purchasing power of $108,947 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) | $59,980 | $67,850 | +$7,870 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $64,210 | $72,635 | +$8,425 |
| Median (P50) | $96,310 | $108,947 | +$12,637 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $133,970 | $151,549 | +$17,579 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $144,750 | $163,744 | +$18,994 |
A Economists in Iowa earns $96,310 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $108,947 in an average-cost state. This makes Iowa one of the best value states for this occupation.
Iowa's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 88.4 means a basket of goods and services costs about 11.6% less than the national average. For a Economists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $96,310 for Iowa's cost of living yields $108,948 — a 13.1% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
Iowa sits at #20 of 40 states for Economists COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Economists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Iowa ranks #20 out of 40 states for Economists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Economists take-home pay in Iowa after taxes →
A Economists in Iowa earns a median salary of $96,310 per year. After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (RPP=88.4), the real purchasing power is $108,947 — 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 Economists in Iowa: $96,310 x (100 / 88.4) = $108,947. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Economists 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.
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