SOC 19-2099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physical Scientists, All Other — Iowa
Iowa
At $80,810, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Physical Scientists, All Other, 34.1% beneath the national figure of $122,570.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $80,810, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Physical Scientists, All Other, 34.1% beneath the national figure of $122,570. Pay ranges from under $61,110 at the tenth percentile to more than $177,200 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $65,830 to $139,040.
Employment stands at 100, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Iowa ranks number 37th out of 39 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 711 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 156th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,110 | −50.1% |
| 25th | $65,830 | −46.3% |
| Median (50th) | $80,810 | −34.1% |
| 75th | $139,040 | +13.4% |
| 90th | $177,200 | +44.6% |
| Mean | $101,240 | −17.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $80,810 goes as far as $92,039 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 24.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$92,039US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,810 a year, 34.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,110 to $177,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 100 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 37th of 39 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $80,810, or $38.85 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 $122,570, so pay in Iowa is 34.1% 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 $177,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,110 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 100 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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