Chemists pay range in Iowa City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,330 or more. The middle half of chemists in Iowa City earn between $65,270 and $82,330.
- $65K10th
- $65K25th
- $65KMedian
- $82K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,460 | $6,288 | $36.28 |
| Median | $65,270 | $5,439 | $31.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,270 | $5,439 | $31.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,330 | $6,861 | $39.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Iowa City vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Chemists in Iowa City earn 20% less than the Iowa average ($94,080) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -28% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $75,460 | $65,270 | $65,270 | $86,330 | 40 |
| Iowa | $94,080 | $86,100 | $65,270 | $137,560 | 570 |
| United States | $100,450 | $91,240 | $58,460 | $160,830 | 82,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemists salary after taxes in Iowa City
On the average salary of $75,460, a single filer in Iowa City takes home about $59,660 a year, or $4,972 a month and $2,295 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Iowa City a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Iowa City area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $75,460 buys what about $82,462 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Iowa City ($50,060). A typical home costs $302,063, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Iowa cities
Iowa City ranks 5th of 5 Iowa metro areas for this job; Davenport pays the most ($102,990).
- Davenport$102,990
- Cedar Rapids$97,030
- Des Moines$96,700
- Ames$92,310
- Iowa City$75,460
Highest-paying cities for chemists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,550).
- Washington, DC$144,550
- Bay City, MI$139,910
- Lexington Park, MD$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,870
- Boston, MA$130,520
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Chemists salary in Iowa City: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Iowa City?
$36.28 an hour on average, and $31.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Iowa City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Iowa City?
About $59,660 a year ($4,972 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,460. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do chemists earn more in Iowa City than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. average for this job ($100,450).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2031; area Iowa City, IA (26980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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