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What does a Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary 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 Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary earning $83,950 in Iowa has the equivalent purchasing power of $94,966 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) | $55,250 | $62,500 | +$7,250 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $80,460 | $91,018 | +$10,558 |
| Median (P50) | $83,950 | $94,966 | +$11,016 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $94,130 | $106,481 | +$12,351 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $98,940 | $111,923 | +$12,983 |
A Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Iowa earns $83,950 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $94,966 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 Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $83,950 for Iowa's cost of living yields $94,966 — 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.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary, Iowa places #4 of 28 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Iowa ranks #4 out of 28 states for Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary take-home pay in Iowa after taxes →
A Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Iowa earns a median salary of $83,950 per year. After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (RPP=88.4), the real purchasing power is $94,966 — 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 Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Iowa: $83,950 x (100 / 88.4) = $94,966. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary 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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