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What does a Materials Scientists 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 Materials Scientists earning $88,320 in Iowa has the equivalent purchasing power of $99,909 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) | $52,450 | $59,332 | +$6,882 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $67,590 | $76,459 | +$8,869 |
| Median (P50) | $88,320 | $99,909 | +$11,589 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $124,100 | $140,384 | +$16,284 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $149,020 | $168,574 | +$19,554 |
A Materials Scientists in Iowa earns $88,320 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $99,909 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 Materials Scientists, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $88,320 for Iowa's cost of living yields $99,910 — 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 ranks #25 of 30 — bottom quartile for Materials Scientists real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Materials Scientists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Iowa ranks #25 out of 30 states for Materials Scientists after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Materials Scientists take-home pay in Iowa after taxes →
A Materials Scientists in Iowa earns a median salary of $88,320 per year. After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (RPP=88.4), the real purchasing power is $99,909 — 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 Materials Scientists in Iowa: $88,320 x (100 / 88.4) = $99,909. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Materials 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.
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