Iowa Income Statistics
Iowa Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Iowa Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in Iowa
- Dallas County (131% of U.S. avg)
- Warren County (116% of U.S. avg)
- Dickinson County (112% of U.S. avg)
- Appanoose County (85% of U.S. avg)
- Decatur County (86% of U.S. avg)
- Jefferson County (88% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Iowa | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Iowa is about 7% lower than in US. Income has been growing slower in Iowa (4.0%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Iowa earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Iowa grew by 56.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $75,133 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Iowa
| Metric | Iowa | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Iowa, it is 0.510, lower than US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $490,000 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Iowa has narrowed from about 24% to 21% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,403 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Iowa | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 60,848 people are unemployed in Iowa.
The average commute time in Iowa is 16 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Iowa has fallen from 5.5% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.8% in 2013.
Iowa Wealth Compared With Nearby States
Iowa is the 5th largest of the 6 states compared here, 3,204,793 residents against a local median of 5,910,864. Iowa sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these states turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 10% below the local median at 3.6% against 4.0%. Iowa has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 3,204,793 | $75,133 #4/6 | 4.0%/yr #6/6 | 3.6% #2/6 | 0.510 #3/6 |
| Missouri | 6,186,340 | $70,801 | 4.6%/yr | 4.0% | 0.532 |
| Minnesota | 5,724,000 | $89,852 | 4.4%/yr | 4.1% | 0.507 |
| Wisconsin | 5,910,864 | $77,698 | 4.4%/yr | 3.2% | 0.503 |
| Illinois | 12,692,444 | $84,042 | 4.5%/yr | 5.8% | 0.547 |
| Kansas | 2,945,842 | $74,287 | 4.1%/yr | 3.8% | 0.525 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Iowa.
How Wealthy Is Iowa?
Iowa has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $75,133, about 7% lower than the US average of $80,455.
Are incomes growing in Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Iowa rose 56%, from $48,065 to $75,133. Over the same years, income here lagged behind the U.S. as a whole: +56% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Iowa in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Iowa was $73,347, up 3% from $70,932 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in Iowa in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Iowa was $62,157. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $75,133.
Is it hard to find a job in Iowa?
Unemployment in Iowa is only 3.6%, well below the US rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Iowa is 0.510. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Iowa has narrowed from about 24% to 21% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,403 since 2009.
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