Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
Iowa employs 11,080 Life, Physical & Social Science professionals across 33 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Life, Physical & Social Science industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Life, Physical & Social Science in Iowa, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Life, Physical & Social Science industry in Iowa, sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Click any job title for state-specific salary details.
| # | Job Title | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physicists | $178,110 | $176,230 | 110 | $85/hr |
| 2 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | $101,090 | $96,820 | 140 | $48/hr |
| 3 | Economists | $96,310 | $102,020 | 70 | $46/hr |
| 4 | Soil and Plant Scientists | $96,310 | $104,430 | 960 | $46/hr |
| 5 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $91,690 | $104,130 | 440 | $44/hr |
| 6 | Materials Scientists | $88,320 | $99,050 | 180 | $42/hr |
| 7 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $87,830 | $90,390 | 1,310 | $42/hr |
| 8 | Chemists | $86,100 | $94,080 | 570 | $41/hr |
| 9 | Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,850 | $96,170 | 1,060 | $40/hr |
| 10 | Survey Researchers | $83,170 | $82,010 | 90 | $39/hr |
| 11 | Foresters | $83,000 | $83,390 | 50 | $39/hr |
| 12 | Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $83,000 | $80,120 | 90 | $39/hr |
| 13 | Food Scientists and Technologists | $82,010 | $82,570 | 380 | $39/hr |
| 14 | Hydrologists | $81,150 | $90,730 | 50 | $39/hr |
| 15 | Epidemiologists | $79,880 | $77,360 | 90 | $38/hr |
| 16 | Microbiologists | $79,830 | $91,170 | 180 | $38/hr |
| 17 | Urban and Regional Planners | $79,100 | $79,990 | 300 | $38/hr |
| 18 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $78,780 | $81,670 | 690 | $37/hr |
| 19 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $76,850 | $89,160 | 100 | $36/hr |
| 20 | Animal Scientists | $75,290 | $100,940 | 60 | $36/hr |
| 21 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $74,460 | $77,720 | 40 | $35/hr |
| 22 | School Psychologists | $74,410 | $72,460 | 400 | $35/hr |
| 23 | Conservation Scientists | $69,240 | $71,620 | 610 | $33/hr |
| 24 | Anthropologists and Archeologists | $67,270 | $70,470 | 40 | $32/hr |
| 25 | Forensic Science Technicians | $67,060 | $67,980 | 130 | $32/hr |
| 26 | Agricultural Technicians | $64,070 | $62,610 | N/A | $30/hr |
| 27 | Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $58,300 | $61,680 | 290 | $28/hr |
| 28 | Chemical Technicians | $58,090 | $58,510 | 440 | $27/hr |
| 29 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $52,020 | $54,280 | 470 | $25/hr |
| 30 | Forest and Conservation Technicians | $52,000 | $52,700 | 380 | $25/hr |
| 31 | Food Science Technicians | $50,740 | $52,870 | 420 | $24/hr |
| 32 | Biological Technicians | $48,050 | $54,470 | 800 | $23/hr |
| 33 | Social Science Research Assistants | $40,940 | $40,040 | 140 | $19/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across Iowa:
Iowa has 33 Life, Physical & Social Science occupations with 11,080 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Life, Physical & Social Science occupation in Iowa is Physicists with a median salary of $178,110/year.
The average median salary across 33 Life, Physical & Social Science occupations in Iowa is $77,828/year.
Salaries in Life, Physical & Social Science in Iowa range from $22,260 (entry-level) to $292,990 (senior) across all occupations.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes organize jobs into groups. Life, Physical & Social Science occupations use SOC prefix 19. Data comes from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Salary figures represent May 2025 compensation for occupations classified under SOC code 19* in Iowa. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources