Data Scientist salary in Iowa
Data Scientists in Iowa earn a median of $95,830 a year ($46.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $146,700 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $120,230. Iowa ranks 38th of 49 states for data scientists pay. There are 1.5 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $98,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,070 | $26.96 |
| 25th percentile | $71,010 | $34.14 |
| Median | $95,830 | $46.07 |
| 75th percentile | $127,340 | $61.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $146,700 | $70.53 |
| Average (mean) | $98,100 | $47.16 |
Half of data 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 | $7,985.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,992.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,685.77 |
| Weekly | $1,842.88 |
| Hourly | $46.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $106,340 | 280 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $103,030 | 1,240 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $100,830 | 1,200 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $99,410 | 180 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $90,030 | 40 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $82,050 | 70 |
| Ames, IA | $79,430 | 100 |
| Dubuque, IA | $74,790 | 90 |
| Iowa City, IA | $72,120 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Actuary | $128,690 | $61.87 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $80,580 | $38.74 |
| Statistician | $80,150 | $38.54 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $49,020 | $23.57 |
| Software Developer | $114,890 | $55.24 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $58,810 | $28.27 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $95,920 | $46.11 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $107,340 | $51.61 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $84,500 | $40.62 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $64,600 | $31.06 |
| Computer Network Architect | $103,050 | $49.54 |
| Information Security Analyst | $119,710 | $57.55 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $88,590 | $42.59 |
| Computer Programmer | $79,180 | $38.07 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2051. 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 data scientist make in Iowa?
The median salary for data scientists in Iowa is $95,830 a year, or $46.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $146,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Iowa?
The top 10% of data scientists in Iowa earn at least $146,700 a year. The top 25% earn $127,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,070 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $71,010 or less.
How many data scientists work in Iowa?
About 2,300 data scientists are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.