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verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Elementary School Teacher Salary in Iowa

Median Annual in Iowa
$60,580/yr
Median Hourly Wage
—/hr
▼ 5% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Iowa

groups Employed in IA
17,300
public U.S. Median
$63,970
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$69,028 #23 of 51

Elementary School Teacher pay in Iowa, explained

Elementary school teachers in Iowa earn a median of $60,580 per year (— per hour), which is 5% below the national median of $63,970. Entry-level workers earn around $47,260, while the most experienced elementary school teachers reach about $77,400. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Iowa.

Is $60,580 good pay in Iowa?

Adjusted for Iowa's cost of living (which runs 88% of the U.S. average), that $60,580 is worth about $69,028 in national buying power — ranking Iowa #23 for real pay (vs #36 on the sticker number).

See the full Elementary School Teacher Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Elementary School Teacher pay by experience in Iowa

Entry level (10th pct)
$47,260
$22.72/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$60,580
—/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$77,400
$37.21/hr

Elementary School Teacher pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IA
Iowa (here) $60,580 $69,028 —
Minnesota $76,350 $77,418 −$15,770
Illinois $75,320 $75,352 −$14,740
Nebraska $62,380 $69,232 −$1,800
Wisconsin $61,210 $65,051 −$630
Missouri $50,910 $56,058 +$9,670
South Dakota $50,130 $56,589 +$10,450

Elementary School Teacher in Iowa: FAQ

How much do elementary school teachers make in Iowa?

Elementary school teachers in Iowa earn a median of $60,580 per year (— per hour), compared with $63,970 nationally.

Does Iowa pay elementary school teachers well?

At $60,580, Iowa pays 5% below the national median for elementary school teachers. An estimated 17,300 work in the state.

Elementary School Teacher salary in other states

Washington · $102,350 California · $99,650 District of Columbia · $96,580 Massachusetts · $94,000 Rhode Island · $90,930 New York · $85,760 Connecticut · $80,600 Alaska · $79,260 New Jersey · $78,200 Maryland · $77,680 Ohio · $77,370 Oregon · $77,130

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Iowa

High School Teacher $61,200/yr median Preschool Teacher $33,830/yr median School Counselor $56,540/yr median