What does a Fast Food and Counter Workers salary really buy you in Iowa?
Iowa is 11.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Iowa's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.4, meaning prices are 11.6% lower the national average. A Fast Food and Counter Workers earning $28,400 in Iowa has the equivalent purchasing power of $32,126 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) | $21,970 | $24,852 | +$2,882 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $23,560 | $26,651 | +$3,091 |
| Median (P50) | $28,400 | $32,126 | +$3,726 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $30,900 | $34,954 | +$4,054 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $35,260 | $39,886 | +$4,626 |
A Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa earns $28,400 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $32,126 in an average-cost state. This makes Iowa one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Fast Food and Counter Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Iowa ranks #16 out of 50 states for Fast Food and Counter Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa earns a median salary of $28,400 per year. After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (RPP=88.4), the real purchasing power is $32,126 — 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 Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa: $28,400 x (100 / 88.4) = $32,126. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Fast Food and Counter Workers 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.