StateRates

Dubuque salaries

The median worker in the Dubuque, IA metro area earned $47,910 a year in 2024, about $23.04 an hour. That ranks #146 of the 391 metro areas published here, 3.2% below the national median.

Iowa

Median pay $47,910 $23.04 per hour
Vs national -3.2% U.S. $49,500
Workers 58,930 wage and salary
Metro rank #146 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Dubuque pays 0.5% more than Iowa as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1.95× 510 $72,820
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1.84× 1,460 $54,300
Nursing Assistants 1.67× 890 $40,460
Customer Service Representatives 1.67× 1,740 $45,480
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 1.6× 890 $45,790
Light Truck Drivers 1.49× 570 $42,830
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 1.38× 670 $64,090
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 1.35× 710 $28,200
Construction Laborers 1.34× 540 $47,550
Retail Salespersons 1.17× 1,710 $28,980
Cashiers 1.04× 1,250 $29,320
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 1.02× 540 $55,630

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Dubuque
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Architectural and Engineering Managers $141,770 $68.16 220
Financial Managers $111,900 $53.80 370
Industrial Engineers $106,120 $51.02 210
Software Developers $101,110 $48.61 420
Project Management Specialists $99,330 $47.76 300
Medical and Health Services Managers $98,930 $47.56 230
General and Operations Managers $87,290 $41.97 1,290
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $82,430 $39.63 250
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $77,440 $37.23 320
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,820 $35.01 510
Registered Nurses $70,740 $34.01 1,280
Accountants and Auditors $66,600 $32.02 500
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $64,090 $30.81 670
Electricians $63,810 $30.68 200
Insurance Sales Agents $62,700 $30.15 250
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $62,170 $29.89 230
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $61,970 $29.80 470
Human Resources Specialists $61,570 $29.60 440
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $61,210 $29.43 310
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $61,210 $29.43 240
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators $59,570 $28.64 270
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $58,960 n/a 470
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $58,740 $28.24 200
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $57,420 $27.61 290
Carpenters $57,390 $27.59 280
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $56,120 $26.98 220
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $55,630 n/a 540
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $54,300 $26.11 1,460
Computer User Support Specialists $54,110 $26.01 260
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $51,740 $24.88 550
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $51,590 $24.80 310
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $49,510 $23.80 330
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $49,310 $23.71 260
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $49,260 $23.68 410
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $48,270 $23.21 240
Construction Laborers $47,550 $22.86 540
Coaches and Scouts $47,310 n/a 270
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $47,280 $22.73 380
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $47,070 $22.63 340
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $46,800 $22.50 530
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $46,380 $22.30 370
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $45,790 $22.01 890
Customer Service Representatives $45,480 $21.86 1,740
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $44,170 $21.23 1,110
Light Truck Drivers $42,830 $20.59 570
Office Clerks, General $42,350 $20.36 930
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers $42,330 $20.35 210
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $42,190 $20.28 390
Driver/Sales Workers $41,500 $19.95 200
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $41,220 $19.82 960
Nursing Assistants $40,460 $19.45 890
Stockers and Order Fillers $39,600 $19.04 1,020
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,310 $18.90 450
Pharmacy Technicians $39,300 $18.89 230
Tellers $38,340 $18.44 220
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $38,320 $18.42 420
Receptionists and Information Clerks $36,680 $17.64 240
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners $35,910 $17.26 630
Cooks, Restaurant $35,760 $17.19 440
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,670 $17.15 340

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Dubuque by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Customer Service Representatives 1,740 $45,480 $21.86
Retail Salespersons 1,710 $28,980 $13.93
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,460 $54,300 $26.11
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,360 $28,510 $13.71
General and Operations Managers 1,290 $87,290 $41.97
Registered Nurses 1,280 $70,740 $34.01
Cashiers 1,250 $29,320 $14.10
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,110 $44,170 $21.23
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,020 $39,600 $19.04
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 960 $41,220 $19.82
Office Clerks, General 930 $42,350 $20.36
Nursing Assistants 890 $40,460 $19.45
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 890 $45,790 $22.01
Waiters and Waitresses 810 $27,070 $13.02
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 710 $28,200 n/a
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 670 $64,090 $30.81
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 630 $35,910 $17.26
Light Truck Drivers 570 $42,830 $20.59
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 550 $51,740 $24.88
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 540 $55,630 n/a

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Iowa metro areas

Dubuque pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Dubuque?

The median across all occupations is $47,910, or $23.04 an hour, covering 58,930 wage and salary workers. The mean is $58,490, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Dubuque pay more than the rest of Iowa?

Yes. The metro median of $47,910 is 0.5% above the Iowa median of $47,670. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Dubuque?

Architectural and Engineering Managers ($141,770), Financial Managers ($111,900), Industrial Engineers ($106,120). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Dubuque unusually full of?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, at 1.95× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.