The Average Salary in the State of Iowa May Surprise You
The state of Iowa has a pretty resilient economy, however, wages have been relatively stagnant in recent years, due to a variety of factors. But how it stacks up against its neighbors is rather telling.
Where does the Hawkeye state rank regarding average salary in the U.S.? You might be surprised at the answer.
With an average salary of $53,520, the state of Iowa is currently ranked 36 out of the 50 states, placing it near the bottom third of the entire country.
A better way to analyze this info is to look at how Iowa stacks up against some of the states it borders. So how does that ranking compare to some of its neighbors?
- Minnesota ranks 13 with an average salary of $63,640
- Wisconsin ranks 27 with an average salary of $56,120
- Illinois ranks 12 with an average salary of $63,930
- Missouri ranks 33 with an average salary of $54,520
- Nebraska ranks 32 with an average salary of $55,070
- South Dakota ranks 47 with an average salary of $49,890
As you can see, nearly all of Iowa's neighbors rank higher on the average salary list, except for the Mount Rushmore State.
Why does Iowa come in so low on the list? Some argue that it has to do with its economic development, as its economy is heavily based on agriculture and not nearly as diversified as some of its neighbors.
Which states rank highest on the list? Here are the top 5:
- Massachusetts: Average Salary of $76,600
- New York: Average Salary of $74,870
- California: Average Salary of $73,220
- Washington State: Average Salary of $72,350
- New Jersey: Average Salary $70,890
Story Sources: Yahoo Finance Website, Iowa Economic Development Authority Website, Insider Monkey Website
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