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Iowa State University salary estimate

$41,305yearly

$19.86 hourly rate

Entry-level salary
$21,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Iowa State University Salary Overview

Iowa State University offers a varied salary structure, with average annual salaries pegged at $41,305. The highest paying roles include associate scientist at $71,213, program manager at $65,647, and systems analyst at $64,497. These positions reflect the university's commitment to attracting skilled professionals in critical areas.

On the other hand, entry-level roles, such as student workers, have an average salary of $23,754, illustrating a significant wage gap within the institution. The engineering department leads in pay, with an average of $57,368, while marketing and administrative roles report lower average salaries of $39,301 and $29,110, respectively.

When compared to similar institutions, Iowa State University stands competitive. For example, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute averages $60,059, while University of Iowa Center for Advancement has $55,411. This information is crucial for job seekers looking to navigate their career paths within the academic sector.

Highest paying jobs at Iowa State University

The highest paying jobs at Iowa State University are associate scientist, program manager, systems analyst, and web developer. Associate scientist jobs at Iowa State University earn an average yearly salary of $71,213, Iowa State University program manager jobs average $65,647, and Iowa State University systems analyst jobs average $64,497.

The lowest paying Iowa State University roles include student worker and student employee. Iowa State University student worker average salary is $23,754 per year. So while the average Iowa State University salary is $41,305 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.

Highest paying jobs at Iowa State University

RankJob titleAverage Iowa State University salaryHourly rate
1Associate Scientist$71,213$34.24
2Program Manager$65,647$31.56
3Systems Analyst$64,497$31.01
4Web Developer$60,124$28.91
5Instructor$58,336$28.05
6Lecturer$55,083$26.48
7Doctoral Fellow$55,019$26.45
8Postdoctoral Research Associate$52,733$25.35
9Dietetic Internship$50,956$24.50
10Researcher$50,237$24.15
11Program Coordinator$49,235$23.67
12Laboratory Monitor$47,003$22.60
13Graphic Designer$46,669$22.44
14Community Advisor$42,174$20.28
15Personal Trainer$39,285$18.89
16Research Assistant$35,588$17.11
17Laboratory Technician$34,869$16.76
18Teaching Assistant$26,891$12.93
19Tutor$25,893$12.45
20Peer Mentor$24,256$11.66

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How much does Iowa State University pay by location?

The average Iowa State University salary varies by location. Iowa State University salaries are the highest in Batavia, IL, at $44,170 per year. Iowa State University pays the second highest average salary in Burlington, WI, at $41,969 per year. It's important to factor in the cost of living when negotiating a salary or choosing a place to work.

Highest paying Iowa State University locations

RankLocationAverage Iowa State University salaryHourly rate
1Batavia, IL$44,170$21.24
2Burlington, WI$41,969$20.18
3Knoxville, TN$41,141$19.78
4Ames, IA$36,947$17.76

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Iowa State University salaries by department

Salaries at Iowa State University vary depending on the department you work in. Iowa State University salaries in the engineering department are the highest with an average salary of $57,368. Employees in the it department at Iowa State University receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $52,316 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Iowa State University include the administrative and the marketing organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $29,110 and $39,301, respectively.

Average Iowa State University salary by department

RankDepartmentAverage Iowa State University salaryHourly rate
1Engineering$57,368$27.58
2IT$52,316$25.15
3Healthcare$44,483$21.39
4Education$43,739$21.03
5Non Profit/Government$42,222$20.30
6Research & Development$41,675$20.04
7Marketing$39,302$18.90
8Administrative$29,110$14.00

How much does Iowa State University pay by department?

Best paying Iowa State University research & development salaries

RankPositionAverage Iowa State University salaryHourly rate
1Associate Scientist$71,213$34.24
2Assistant Scientist$71,034$34.15
3Postdoctoral Research Associate$52,733$25.35
4Researcher$50,237$24.15
5Laboratory Monitor$47,003$22.60
6Research Assistant$35,588$17.11
7Laboratory Technician$34,869$16.76

Best paying Iowa State University education salaries

RankPositionAverage Iowa State University salaryHourly rate
1Building Manager$70,118$33.71
2Instructor$58,336$28.05
3Lecturer$55,083$26.48
4Instructional Designer$52,182$25.09
5Intramural Supervisor$49,418$23.76
6Strength And Conditioning Coach$46,608$22.41
7Strength And Conditioning Internship$44,124$21.21
8Teaching Fellow$40,411$19.43
9Student Athlete$39,966$19.21
10Building Supervisor$36,535$17.56
11Graduate Assistant$32,835$15.79
12Teaching Assistant$26,891$12.93
13Tutor$25,893$12.45
14Peer Mentor$24,256$11.66

Best paying Iowa State University administrative salaries

RankPositionAverage Iowa State University salaryHourly rate
1Caller$43,162$20.75
2Building Coordinator$42,494$20.43
3Administrative Specialist$35,611$17.12
4Test Proctor$34,468$16.57
5Project Management Internship$33,667$16.19
6Administrative Assistant$31,955$15.36
7Data Entry Clerk$29,332$14.10
8Data Entry Technician$28,735$13.81
9Office Clerk$28,047$13.48
10Office Assistant$27,971$13.45
11Receptionist$27,929$13.43
12Secretary$26,694$12.83
13Student Employee$23,815$11.45
14Student Worker$23,755$11.42

Iowa State University competitors’ average salaries

Average salaries at Iowa State University competitors, like Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Iowa Center for Advancement, and Michigan State University, vary. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $60,059. The average salary at University of Iowa Center for Advancement is $55,411 per year, and the average salary at Michigan State University is $54,517 per year.

Highest paying Iowa State University competitors

Recently added Iowa State University salaries

JobLocationDate addedSalary
Associate for Athletics MarketingAmes, IA03/28/2025$29,218
HR Assistant & ReceptionistAmes, IA03/27/2025$39,653
Clinical Associate ProfessorAmes, IA03/20/2025$135,000
Research Scientist IIAmes, IA03/20/2025$67,000
Assistant ProfessorAmes, IA03/20/2025$70,000

What employees say about salary at Iowa State University

Employee reviews
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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2023
Pros of working at Iowa State University

The people and the culture are great

Cons of working at Iowa State University

The pay is pretty bad. But that is typical of a state job

Iowa State University benefits

The people

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4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2022
Pros of working at Iowa State University

As a student they offered a good work study job at the IT solution Center. This allowed for me to have a flexible schedule while working and going to class.

Cons of working at Iowa State University

Pay was low for an IT job.

Iowa State University benefits

Flexible Schedule.

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Frequently asked questions about Iowa State University salaries

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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Iowa State University, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Iowa State University. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Iowa State University. 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 State University. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Iowa State University and its employees or that of Zippia.

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