Iowa Median
$31,360
per year
Hourly Rate
$15.08
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-11% vs US median
US median $35,410
State Rank
#39 of 51
41,000 employed here
How much does a Retail Salesperson make in Iowa?
Retail Salespersons in Iowa take home a median of $31,360 annually — roughly $15.08 an hour — which runs 11% below the national median of $35,410.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $25,220 while the top 10% make $45,900 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $28,580 and $36,240 a year.
Retail Salesperson salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,220 | $12.13 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $28,580 | $13.74 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $31,360 | $15.08 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $36,240 | $17.42 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,900 | $22.07 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 39th out of 51 states and territories for Retail Salesperson pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Retail Salesperson salary in other states
Washington $39,560District of Columbia $38,500California $38,440Colorado $37,950Hawaii $37,790New York $37,720Vermont $37,400Alaska $37,290Oregon $36,770Maine $36,640Massachusetts $36,610New Jersey $36,520Connecticut $36,490Minnesota $36,370Montana $36,270New Hampshire $36,200North Dakota $36,040Arizona $35,720Maryland $35,510Illinois $35,370Delaware $35,360Idaho $35,080Rhode Island $34,860Michigan $34,640Wisconsin $34,480South Dakota $34,370Wyoming $34,310Virginia $34,240Nevada $34,190Florida $34,010Utah $33,900Missouri $33,460New Mexico $33,300Kansas $32,180Tennessee $31,950Nebraska $31,870Indiana $31,530North Carolina $31,370Pennsylvania $31,200Georgia $30,840Ohio $30,800Texas $30,800South Carolina $30,690Alabama $30,040Oklahoma $29,660Kentucky $29,650Louisiana $29,490Arkansas $29,270West Virginia $28,950Mississippi $28,640
Working as a Retail Salesperson in Iowa
Nationally, about 3,898,000 people work as Retail Salespersons in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Iowa pay ($31,360) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Retail Salesperson make in Iowa?
The median Retail Salesperson salary in Iowa is $31,360 per year, or about $15.08 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $25,220 at the entry level to $45,900 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Retail Salespersons about 11% less than the national median of $35,410. Iowa ranks 39th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Retail Salespersons?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $31,360 a year. About 41,000 Retail Salespersons are employed in Iowa. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Retail Salesperson salary report
Related salaries
$39,320
median pay · 65,000 employed
$41,380
median pay · 3,000 employed
$38,630
median pay · 270,000 employed
$48,520
median pay · 1,122,000 employed
$36,220
median pay · 22,000 employed
$48,470
median pay · 4,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.