Environmental Scientists and Specialists Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$54,340
- 25th Percentile — Junior$62,080
- 50th Percentile — Median$78,780
- 75th Percentile — Senior$91,070
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$117,040
Half of Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Iowa earn more than $78,780. The top 10% make $117,040 or more, while entry-level workers start around $54,340.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 33rd of 51 states for Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay, at $81,670 per year (10.9% below the U.S. average of $91,680).
- 690 people work as Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Iowa — 0.8% of all U.S. Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.77: Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs are less concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $54,340; the top 10% earn over $117,040.
- Hourly equivalent: $39.26 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $133,190.
- Among science jobs in Iowa, Physicists pays the most ($176,230).
Environmental Scientists and Specialists Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Environmental Scientists and Specialists here earn $81,670 on average, placing the state 33rd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $81,670 is roughly equivalent to $94,965 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Vermont ($83,460), Pennsylvania ($82,270), Louisiana ($82,010) are the closest alternatives for Environmental Scientists and Specialists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- Physicists $176,230/yr Iowa +115.8% vs this role
- Soil and Plant Scientists $104,430/yr Iowa +27.9% vs this role
- Economists $102,020/yr Iowa +24.9% vs this role
- Animal Scientists $100,940/yr Iowa +23.6% vs this role
- Materials Scientists $99,050/yr Iowa +21.3% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $96,820/yr Iowa +18.6% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $96,170/yr Iowa +17.8% vs this role
- Chemists $94,080/yr Iowa +15.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Environmental Scientists and Specialists salary in Iowa?
The average Environmental Scientists and Specialists salary in Iowa is $81,670 per year (median $78,780), which is 10.9% below the national average of $91,680.
How does Iowa rank for Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay?
Iowa ranks 33rd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($133,190/yr).
How much do entry-level Environmental Scientists and Specialists make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Environmental Scientists and Specialists in Iowa earn about $54,340 per year and the 25th percentile is $62,080.
How much do Environmental Scientists and Specialists make per hour in Iowa?
About $39.26 per hour, based on the $81,670 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Environmental Scientists and Specialists work in Iowa?
BLS counts 690 Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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