What does a Software Developers 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 Software Developers earning $105,920 in Iowa has the equivalent purchasing power of $119,819 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) | $67,600 | $76,470 | +$8,870 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $86,060 | $97,352 | +$11,292 |
| Median (P50) | $105,920 | $119,819 | +$13,899 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $130,320 | $147,420 | +$17,100 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $148,510 | $167,997 | +$19,487 |
A Software Developers in Iowa earns $105,920 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $119,819 in an average-cost state. This makes Iowa one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Software Developers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Iowa ranks #27 out of 51 states for Software Developers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Software Developers take-home pay in Iowa after taxes →
A Software Developers in Iowa earns a median salary of $105,920 per year. After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (RPP=88.4), the real purchasing power is $119,819 — 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 Software Developers in Iowa: $105,920 x (100 / 88.4) = $119,819. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Software Developers 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.