Physicists Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$83,830
- 25th Percentile — Junior$104,970
- 50th Percentile — Median$178,110
- 75th Percentile — Senior$218,520
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$292,990
Half of Physicists in Iowa earn more than $178,110. The top 10% make $292,990 or more, while entry-level workers start around $83,830.
Physicists in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 15th of 43 states for Physicists pay, at $176,230 per year (3.0% above the U.S. average of $171,180).
- 110 people work as Physicists in Iowa — 0.5% of all U.S. Physicists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.55: Physicists jobs are less concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $83,830; the top 10% earn over $292,990.
- Hourly equivalent: $84.73 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Florida at $219,910.
- Among science jobs in Iowa, Soil and Plant Scientists pays the most ($104,430).
Physicists Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Physicists here earn $176,230 on average, placing the state 15th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $176,230 is roughly equivalent to $204,919 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Georgia ($179,130), Hawaii ($177,940), New Mexico ($176,680) are the closest alternatives for Physicists 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
- Soil and Plant Scientists $104,430/yr Iowa 40.7% vs this role
- Economists $102,020/yr Iowa 42.1% vs this role
- Animal Scientists $100,940/yr Iowa 42.7% vs this role
- Materials Scientists $99,050/yr Iowa 43.8% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $96,820/yr Iowa 45.1% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $96,170/yr Iowa 45.4% vs this role
- Chemists $94,080/yr Iowa 46.6% vs this role
- Microbiologists $91,170/yr Iowa 48.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Physicists salary in Iowa?
The average Physicists salary in Iowa is $176,230 per year (median $178,110), which is 3.0% above the national average of $171,180.
How does Iowa rank for Physicists pay?
Iowa ranks 15th out of 43 states. The highest-paying state is Florida ($219,910/yr).
How much do entry-level Physicists make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Physicists in Iowa earn about $83,830 per year and the 25th percentile is $104,970.
How much do Physicists make per hour in Iowa?
About $84.73 per hour, based on the $176,230 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Physicists work in Iowa?
BLS counts 110 Physicists jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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