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What does a Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers 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 Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers earning $31,680 in Iowa has the equivalent purchasing power of $35,837 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) | $27,460 | $31,063 | +$3,603 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $28,400 | $32,126 | +$3,726 |
| Median (P50) | $31,680 | $35,837 | +$4,157 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $39,260 | $44,411 | +$5,151 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $42,950 | $48,585 | +$5,635 |
A Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in Iowa earns $31,680 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 13% further — like earning $35,837 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 Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $31,680 for Iowa's cost of living yields $35,837 — 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 #36 of 42 — bottom quartile for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Iowa ranks #36 out of 42 states for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers take-home pay in Iowa after taxes →
A Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in Iowa earns a median salary of $31,680 per year. After adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (RPP=88.4), the real purchasing power is $35,837 — 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 Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in Iowa: $31,680 x (100 / 88.4) = $35,837. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers 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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