What does a Occupational Therapists salary really buy you in Iowa?
Iowa is 11.6% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Iowa's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.4, meaning prices are 11.6% lower the national average. A Occupational Therapists earning $83,260 in Iowa has the equivalent purchasing power of $94,185 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) | $64,470 | $72,929 | +$8,459 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $72,910 | $82,477 | +$9,567 |
| Median (P50) | $83,260 | $94,185 | +$10,925 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $100,760 | $113,981 | +$13,221 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $109,220 | $123,552 | +$14,332 |
A Occupational Therapists in Iowa earns $83,260 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $94,185 in an average-cost state. This makes Iowa one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Occupational Therapists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Iowa ranks #31 out of 51 states for Occupational Therapists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Occupational Therapists take-home pay in Iowa after taxes →
A Occupational Therapists in Iowa earns a median salary of $83,260 per year. After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (RPP=88.4), the real purchasing power is $94,185 — 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 Occupational Therapists in Iowa: $83,260 x (100 / 88.4) = $94,185. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Occupational Therapists 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.