Economy, jobs and prices in Iowa, United States: official figures
The economy of Iowa (gross domestic product) was worth $271.9 billion in 2025 at current prices, 0.9% of the US total of $30.86 trillion; 20th smallest of 51. In current dollars it was up 2.6% on 2024.
How fast is the economy of Iowa growing?
After adjusting for inflation, real GDP in Iowa shrank 0.4% in 2025, against 2.3% for the United States; 2nd slowest-growing of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat is the GDP per capita of Iowa?
Dividing 2025 GDP by the Census Bureau's population estimate gives $83,973 of output per resident, against $90,294 for the US economy divided by the population of the 50 states and DC; 24th highest of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyIs the economy of Iowa growing or shrinking?
In the second quarter of 2026, real GDP in Iowa grew at an annual rate of 1.7% (United States: 2.2%); tied for 25th fastest-growing of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Iowa?
In 2025 the largest private industry in Iowa's economy was manufacturing (16.8% of GDP), followed by finance and insurance (15.7%) and real estate, rental and leasing (8.8%). Government accounted for 10.6%; the manufacturing share was 3rd highest of 51 (United States: 9.5%).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyHow much do people in Iowa spend?
Consumer spending (personal consumption expenditures) in Iowa came to $51,254 per person in 2025 (United States: $61,062); 7th lowest of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyIs Iowa expensive to live in?
Prices in Iowa were 12.2% below the national average in 2024, by BEA's regional price parity of 87.8 (US = 100), which covers goods, services and housing; 3rd least expensive of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat is the inflation rate in Iowa?
Prices in Iowa rose 1.5% in 2024, measured by BEA's implicit regional price deflator, against 2.6% nationally (PCE price index).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat is the per capita income in Iowa?
Personal income per person in Iowa was $67,321 in 2025, against $77,028 for the United States; 14th lowest of 51. It was up 3.7% on 2024 and up 27.8% on 2020, before inflation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat is the disposable income per person in Iowa?
After taxes, disposable personal income per person was $60,074 in 2025 (United States: $67,251); 15th lowest of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyHow far does income go in Iowa?
Adjusted for local price levels, real personal income per person in Iowa was $60,144 in 2024 in 2017 dollars (United States: $59,195); 19th highest of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Iowa?
Median household income in Iowa was $75,501 in 2024 (margin of error ±$1,016), against $81,604 for the United States; 17th lowest of 51 by the point estimate. It was up 2.7% on 2023 after adjusting for inflation (American Community Survey).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Iowa?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Iowa was 0.436 in 2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 means one household has everything; United States: 0.481); 3rd least unequal of 51.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Iowa?
The unemployment rate in Iowa was 3.2% in September 2026 (seasonally adjusted, preliminary), down from 3.4% a year earlier; tied for 9th lowest of 51. The rate for the 50 states and DC combined was 4.2%.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyHow many people are unemployed in Iowa?
In September 2026, 55,658 people in Iowa were unemployed and 1,665,538 employed, out of a labor force of 1,721,196.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyWhat was the unemployment rate in Iowa in 2025?
Over 2025 the unemployment rate in Iowa averaged 3.5% (an 11-month average: October 2025 was not collected during the federal shutdown), against 3.2% in 2024; tied for 15th lowest of 51. The lowest annual rate since 1976 was 2.6% in 2018.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Iowa?
Workers covered by unemployment insurance in Iowa were paid $63,469 on average in 2025 ($1,221 a week), up 3.5% on 2024; the US average was $78,720. That is 13th lowest of 51.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyHow many jobs are there in Iowa?
Employers in Iowa had an average of 1,558,465 jobs on their payrolls in 2025 across 111,274 establishments, down 0.3% on 2024 (United States: up 0.5%).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median wage in Iowa?
The median annual wage across all occupations in Iowa was $48,540 in May 2025 (mean $59,830); 20th lowest of 51. One in ten workers earned less than $28,930 and one in ten more than $99,630.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyWhat is the most common job in Iowa?
The most common occupation in Iowa in May 2025 was cashiers, with 41,450 workers and a median annual wage of $28,970.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Iowa?
Median household income in Iowa was $75,623 in 2024, 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $81,604). In 2019 it was $61,807, so it has risen 22.4% before allowing for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Iowa?
The median gross rent in Iowa, including utilities, was $981 a month in 2024, up 3.4% on 2023 ($949); 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $1,487).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the median home value in Iowa?
Homeowners in Iowa valued their homes at a median of $227,300 in 2024, up 6.6% on 2023 ($213,300); 7th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $360,600).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Iowa?
The median home value in Iowa was 3.0 times the median household income in 2024 ($227,300 against $75,623); 2nd lowest ratio among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 4.4).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyIs rent affordable in Iowa?
A household on the median income in Iowa would spend 15.6% of its income on the median rent of $981 a month in 2024 (U.S.: 21.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Iowa compares with other states
Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars) (2025)
Iowa ranks 32 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gross domestic product, 2025 (current dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Kentucky | $313.6 billion |
| 30 | Nevada | $281.4 billion |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $274.3 billion |
| 32 | Iowa | $271.9 billion |
| 33 | Kansas | $232.1 billion |
| 34 | Nebraska | $206.6 billion |
| 35 | Arkansas | $196.0 billion |
GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population) (2025)
Iowa ranks 24 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per resident, 2025 (BEA GDP / Census population) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | South Dakota | $87,694 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $85,959 |
| 23 | Nevada | $85,728 |
| 24 | Iowa | $83,973 |
| 25 | Georgia | $82,819 |
| 26 | Ohio | $82,087 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $80,898 |
Real GDP growth, 2025 (2025)
Iowa ranks 50 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Wisconsin | 0.8% |
| 46 | Maryland | 0.8% |
| 47 | Minnesota | 0.7% |
| 48 | North Dakota | 0.5% |
| 49 | Wyoming | 0.1% |
| 50 | Iowa | -0.4% |
| 51 | District of Columbia | -1.0% |
Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate) (2026:Q2)
Iowa ranks 27 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth, 2026:Q2 (annual rate) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Missouri | 1.9% |
| 25 | New Jersey | 1.7% |
| 26 | Tennessee | 1.7% |
| 27 | Iowa | 1.7% |
| 28 | Idaho | 1.5% |
| 29 | Maine | 1.4% |
| 30 | Indiana | 1.3% |
Personal income per person, 2025 (2025)
Iowa ranks 38 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Personal income per person, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Arizona | $68,373 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $68,274 |
| 37 | Ohio | $67,584 |
| 38 | Iowa | $67,321 |
| 39 | Michigan | $67,245 |
| 40 | Indiana | $66,455 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $66,055 |
Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars) (2024)
Iowa ranks 19 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real personal income per person, 2024 (adjusted for local prices, 2017 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Maryland | $61,111 |
| 17 | Illinois | $60,333 |
| 18 | Alaska | $60,272 |
| 19 | Iowa | $60,144 |
| 20 | Montana | $59,203 |
| 21 | Kansas | $59,172 |
| 22 | Vermont | $58,893 |
Median household income, 2024 (ACS) (2024)
Iowa ranks 35 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Median household income, 2024 (ACS) |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Nebraska | $76,376 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $75,532 |
| 34 | Kansas | $75,514 |
| 35 | Iowa | $75,501 |
| 36 | Montana | $75,340 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $73,958 |
| 38 | Michigan | $72,389 |
Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100) (2024)
Iowa ranks 49 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Regional price parity, 2024 (US = 100) |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Alabama | 88.8 |
| 46 | South Dakota | 88.6 |
| 47 | Louisiana | 88.2 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | 87.8 |
| 49 | Iowa | 87.8 |
| 50 | Mississippi | 87.0 |
| 51 | Arkansas | 86.9 |
Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted) (September 2026)
Iowa ranks 43 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, September 2026 (seasonally adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Mississippi | 3.3% |
| 41 | Maine | 3.3% |
| 42 | Wisconsin | 3.2% |
| 43 | Iowa | 3.2% |
| 44 | Montana | 3.1% |
| 45 | Wyoming | 3.0% |
| 46 | Nebraska | 2.9% |
Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average (2025)
Iowa ranks 37 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, 2025 annual average |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Idaho | 3.7% |
| 35 | Utah | 3.6% |
| 36 | Tennessee | 3.5% |
| 37 | Iowa | 3.5% |
| 38 | Georgia | 3.4% |
| 39 | Virginia | 3.4% |
| 40 | Oklahoma | 3.4% |
Labor force participation rate, September 2026 (September 2026)
Iowa ranks 4 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Labor force participation rate, September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 70.3% |
| 2 | Nebraska | 69.2% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 68.9% |
| 4 | Iowa | 66.9% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 66.7% |
| 6 | Utah | 66.5% |
| 7 | Kansas | 66.4% |
Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW) (2025)
Iowa ranks 39 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average annual pay, 2025 (QCEW) |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Alabama | $64,479 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $63,728 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $63,535 |
| 39 | Iowa | $63,469 |
| 40 | Kansas | $63,212 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $63,124 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $63,090 |
Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS) (May 2025)
Iowa ranks 32 of 51, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Median annual wage, all occupations, May 2025 (OEWS) |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Nebraska | $48,980 |
| 30 | Montana | $48,740 |
| 31 | Texas | $48,620 |
| 32 | Iowa | $48,540 |
| 33 | Georgia | $48,170 |
| 34 | Kansas | $48,010 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $47,970 |
Median household income (2024)
Iowa ranks 34 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Wyoming | $76,975 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $76,578 |
| 33 | Maine | $76,372 |
| 34 | Iowa | $75,623 |
| 35 | Montana | $75,520 |
| 36 | Kansas | $75,402 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $74,055 |
Median gross rent (monthly) (2024)
Iowa ranks 49 of 51, highest first. Renter-occupied units paying cash rent
| Rank | Region | Median gross rent (monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Kentucky | $998 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $998 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $990 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $982 |
| 49 | Iowa | $981 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $980 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $883 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2024)
Iowa ranks 45 of 51, highest first. Owner-reported value
| Rank | Region | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Ohio | $239,800 |
| 43 | Kansas | $238,700 |
| 44 | Alabama | $233,300 |
| 45 | Iowa | $227,300 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $226,000 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $223,200 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $222,100 |
More on Iowa: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2024 (ACSBR-025), Appendix Table 1: median household income and Gini index by state, 2023 and 2024 American Community Survey, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5de1b0d5ec46…)
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SASUMMARY: State annual summary statistics: personal income, GDP, consumer spending, price indexes, and employment (updated 30 September 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a3757d207c05…)
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SAGDP: Annual GDP by state, 1997-2025 (table SAGDP2, GDP in current dollars by industry), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d3c5bc7bd24…)
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: SQGDP: Quarterly GDP by state, 2005-2026 Q2 (table SQGDP11, percent change in real GDP at annual rate), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1649260cdceb…)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, monthly, seasonally adjusted, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bb6f18d4145…)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, states, annual averages 1976-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 262aba7d00df…)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates (state_M2025_dl.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 74d5be0e1df8…)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages, all industries (open data CSV slice), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5a5f89142aae…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median gross rent (B25064), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8624f9775add…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Median value of owner-occupied homes (B25077), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27120d5d8a5f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.