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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources offers a competitive average salary of $37,797 in 2025. This figure reflects the agency's commitment to attracting talent dedicated to preserving Iowa's natural resources. Salaries vary across different departments, with opportunities in research and development often offering higher compensation. For instance, the best-paying roles typically include specialized positions that require advanced qualifications and experience.
In addition to competitive salaries, employees benefit from a comprehensive range of perks, including health benefits and retirement plans. Understanding the salary distribution by department can help job seekers identify the best opportunities within the agency. Departments focused on environmental protection or wildlife management may present higher earning potential, making them attractive options for those passionate about conservation efforts.
In summary, whether you’re entering the job market or looking to advance your career, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources presents valuable opportunities with attractive compensation packages.
The highest paying jobs at Iowa Department of Natural Resources are information technology project manager, adjunct professor, information technology specialist, and consulting engineer. Information technology project manager jobs at Iowa Department of Natural Resources earn an average yearly salary of $69,656, Iowa Department of Natural Resources adjunct professor jobs average $67,743, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources information technology specialist jobs average $65,813.
The lowest paying Iowa Department of Natural Resources roles include farm hand and camp counselor. Iowa Department of Natural Resources farm hand average salary is $24,653 per year. So while the average Iowa Department of Natural Resources salary is $37,797 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
| Rank | Job title | Average Iowa Department of Natural Resources salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Information Technology Project Manager | $69,656 | $33.49 |
| 2 | Adjunct Professor | $67,743 | $32.57 |
| 3 | Information Technology Specialist | $65,813 | $31.64 |
| 4 | Consulting Engineer | $65,409 | $31.45 |
| 5 | Lead Programmer | $61,092 | $29.37 |
| 6 | Student Attorney | $60,552 | $29.11 |
| 7 | Bureau Chief | $59,017 | $28.37 |
| 8 | Research Director | $58,973 | $28.35 |
| 9 | Division Administrator | $57,799 | $27.79 |
| 10 | GIS Analyst | $57,773 | $27.78 |
| 11 | Lecturer | $55,834 | $26.84 |
| 12 | Systems Analyst Programmer | $54,720 | $26.31 |
| 13 | Natural Resource Specialist | $48,565 | $23.35 |
| 14 | Environmental Engineer | $48,204 | $23.18 |
| 15 | Massage Therapist | $46,927 | $22.56 |
| 16 | Certified Instructor | $46,904 | $22.55 |
| 17 | Public Relations Representative | $46,482 | $22.35 |
| 18 | Doctoral Student | $43,479 | $20.90 |
| 19 | Contracts Administrator | $40,543 | $19.49 |
| 20 | Program Coordinator | $39,391 | $18.94 |
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Salaries at Iowa Department of Natural Resources vary depending on the department you work in. Iowa Department of Natural Resources salaries in the it department are the highest with an average salary of $59,079. Employees in the engineering department at Iowa Department of Natural Resources receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $51,853 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Iowa Department of Natural Resources include the facilities and the hospitality/service organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $27,008 and $29,030, respectively.
| Rank | Department | Average Iowa Department of Natural Resources salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IT | $59,079 | $28.40 |
| 2 | Engineering | $51,853 | $24.93 |
| 3 | Marketing | $48,687 | $23.41 |
| 4 | Plant/Manufacturing | $47,403 | $22.79 |
| 5 | Education | $46,654 | $22.43 |
| 6 | Finance | $45,966 | $22.10 |
| 7 | Research & Development | $39,975 | $19.22 |
| 8 | Legal | $37,990 | $18.26 |
| 9 | Construction | $33,400 | $16.06 |
| 10 | Non Profit/Government | $33,049 | $15.89 |
| 11 | Customer Service | $32,673 | $15.71 |
| 12 | Administrative | $31,270 | $15.03 |
| 13 | Hospitality/Service | $29,030 | $13.96 |
| 14 | Facilities | $27,009 | $12.99 |
| Rank | Position | Average Iowa Department of Natural Resources salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research Director | $58,973 | $28.35 |
| 2 | Natural Resource Specialist | $48,565 | $23.35 |
| 3 | Environmental Engineer | $48,204 | $23.18 |
| 4 | Doctoral Student | $43,479 | $20.90 |
| 5 | Environmental Specialist | $43,445 | $20.89 |
| 6 | Wildlife Technician | $30,485 | $14.66 |
| 7 | Natural Resource Technician | $30,147 | $14.49 |
| 8 | Research Assistant | $29,685 | $14.27 |
| Rank | Position | Average Iowa Department of Natural Resources salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bureau Chief | $59,017 | $28.37 |
| 2 | Program Coordinator | $39,391 | $18.94 |
| 3 | Interpretive Naturalist | $35,474 | $17.05 |
| 4 | Park Ranger | $34,738 | $16.70 |
| 5 | Parks And Recreation Manager | $33,600 | $16.15 |
| 6 | Program Assistant | $32,018 | $15.39 |
| 7 | Patrol Officer | $31,714 | $15.25 |
| Rank | Position | Average Iowa Department of Natural Resources salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Division Administrator | $57,799 | $27.79 |
| 2 | Creel Clerk | $37,853 | $18.20 |
| 3 | Administrative Assistant/Technical | $31,578 | $15.18 |
| 4 | Clerical Specialist | $28,578 | $13.74 |
| 5 | Student Internship | $27,311 | $13.13 |
| 6 | Data Entry Internship | $27,304 | $13.13 |
| 7 | Receptionist | $26,911 | $12.94 |
| 8 | Student Employee | $25,486 | $12.25 |
Average salaries at Iowa Department of Natural Resources competitors, like Texas Commission on Fire Protection, Wildlife International, and California Department of Technology, vary. Texas Commission on Fire Protection employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $58,625. The average salary at Wildlife International is $52,439 per year, and the average salary at California Department of Technology is $50,564 per year.
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas Commission on Fire Protection | 4.1 | $58,625 |
| 2 | Wildlife International | 4.3 | $52,439 |
| 3 | California Department of Technology | 4.4 | $50,564 |
| 4 | Bureau of Land Management | 4.5 | $47,563 |
| 5 | Whatcom County | 3.9 | $47,544 |
| 6 | Environmental Facilities Corporation | 3.7 | $46,906 |
| 7 | Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks | 4.0 | $46,660 |
| 8 | New Mexico Fish & Wildlife Conservation | 4.1 | $44,560 |
| 9 | Natural Resources Conservation Service | 4.5 | $44,374 |
| 10 | Bellevue, Kentucky | 4.4 | $43,748 |
| 11 | Story County Sheriff | 3.5 | $42,637 |
| 12 | Arkansas Game and Fish Commission | 3.9 | $41,380 |
| 13 | Minnesota Department Of Natural Resources | 3.7 | $41,162 |
| 14 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 4.5 | $40,921 |
| 15 | Maryland Department Of Business & Economic Development | 3.8 | $40,601 |
| 16 | Ohio Department of Natural Resources | 3.8 | $40,548 |
| 17 | Forsyth County | 4.2 | $40,494 |
| 18 | Broward County Government | 4.3 | $40,020 |
| 19 | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 3.7 | $38,678 |
| 20 | Wisconsin Department of Transportation | 4.7 | $35,805 |
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT Project Manager 2 (Infrastructure &/OR Software Design Projects) | Columbus, OH | 06/27/2025 | $94,854 |
| Custodial Worker | Columbus, OH | 06/21/2025 | $39,382 |
| Forest Manager | Zanesville, OH | 06/19/2025 | $64,614 |
| Natural Resources Technician 1 (Barkcamp State Park) | Belmont, OH | 06/18/2025 | $40,634 |
| Human Capital Management Senior Analyst (Workforce Acquisition) | Columbus, OH | 05/23/2025 | $64,614 |
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Iowa Department of Natural Resources, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Iowa Department of Natural Resources and its employees or that of Zippia.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources may also be known as or be related to Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Natural Resources.