Animal Scientist salary in Iowa
Animal Scientists in Iowa earn a median of $75,290 a year ($36.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $186,390 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $68,940. Iowa ranks 9th of 13 states for animal scientists pay. There are 0.04 animal scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $100,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for animal scientists in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,580 | $24.32 |
| 25th percentile | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Median | $75,290 | $36.20 |
| 75th percentile | $135,690 | $65.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $186,390 | $89.61 |
| Average (mean) | $100,940 | $48.53 |
Half of animal scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,274.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,137.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,895.77 |
| Weekly | $1,447.88 |
| Hourly | $36.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Animal Scientist salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $73,740 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for animal scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Texas | $132,830 |
| Minnesota | $88,640 |
| Wisconsin | $84,310 |
| Washington | $83,160 |
| Kansas | $80,090 |
| Maryland | $77,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,660 |
| South Dakota | $77,300 |
| Iowa | $75,290 |
| North Dakota | $72,100 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,850 | $40.31 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $96,310 | $46.30 |
| Conservation Scientist | $69,240 | $33.29 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $82,720 | $39.77 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $82,010 | $39.43 |
| Microbiologist | $79,830 | $38.38 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $101,090 | $48.60 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $64,270 | $30.90 |
| Epidemiologist | $79,880 | $38.41 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $83,000 | $39.91 |
| Forester | $83,000 | $39.91 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $87,830 | $42.23 |
| Biological Technician | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $78,780 | $37.88 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a animal scientist make in Iowa?
The median salary for animal scientists in Iowa is $75,290 a year, or $36.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $186,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid animal scientists make in Iowa?
The top 10% of animal scientists in Iowa earn at least $186,390 a year. The top 25% earn $135,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for animal scientists in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,580 a year, and a quarter of animal scientists earn $59,280 or less.
How many animal scientists work in Iowa?
About 60 animal scientists are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.