SOC 27-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Editors — Iowa
Iowa · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Editors in Iowa is $57,200 per year, substantially below the national median of $77,920 — a gap of 26.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Editors in Iowa is $57,200 per year, substantially below the national median of $77,920 — a gap of 26.6%. Pay ranges from under $38,050 at the tenth percentile to more than $108,820 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $45,800 to $75,180.
Employment stands at 900, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Iowa ranks 39th by median wage. Des Moines leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $63,720. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 371st of 711 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,050 | −51.2% |
| 25th | $45,800 | −41.2% |
| Median (50th) | $57,200 | −26.6% |
| 75th | $75,180 | −3.5% |
| 90th | $108,820 | +39.7% |
| Mean | $67,790 | −13.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines | $63,720 | 260 | |
| 2 | Iowa City | $63,440 | 100 | |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | $61,880 | 90 | |
| 4 | Dubuque | $60,980 | 70 | |
| 5 | Davenport | $58,050 | 90 | |
| 6 | Waterloo | $47,300 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $57,200 goes as far as $65,148 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,200as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,148US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,200 a year, 26.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,050 to $108,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 900 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 39th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Des Moines, at $63,720.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Editors in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $57,200, or $27.50 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $77,920, so pay in Iowa is 26.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Iowa earns more than $108,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,050 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Des Moines, at $63,720 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 900 jobs in this occupation in Iowa. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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