StateRates

Iowa City salaries

The median worker in the Iowa City, IA metro area earned $49,390 a year in 2024, about $23.74 an hour. That ranks #97 of the 391 metro areas published here, 0.2% below the national median.

Iowa

Median pay $49,390 $23.74 per hour
Vs national -0.2% U.S. $49,500
Workers 92,330 wage and salary
Metro rank #97 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Iowa City pays 3.6% 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
Biological Technicians 11.13× 510 $51,300
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 9.62× 900 $85,010
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other 4.4× 520 $40,440
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 2.51× 1,250 $48,710
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants 2.41× 680 $53,170
Registered Nurses 2.06× 4,050 $82,920
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 2.04× 550 $36,230
Billing and Posting Clerks 2.03× 510 $48,630
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1.98× 2,450 $59,600
Medical and Health Services Managers 1.88× 640 $103,520
Bartenders 1.67× 750 $22,880
Business Operations Specialists, All Other 1.66× 1,120 $66,920

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Iowa City
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Physician Assistants $138,360 $66.52 340
Pharmacists $137,540 $66.12 410
Nurse Practitioners $130,140 $62.57 290
Financial Managers $128,680 $61.87 370
Education Administrators, Postsecondary $109,960 $52.87 410
Software Developers $104,950 $50.46 750
Medical and Health Services Managers $103,520 $49.77 640
Computer Occupations, All Other $102,750 $49.40 200
Network and Computer Systems Administrators $89,650 $43.10 240
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other $85,920 $41.31 210
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $85,010 $40.87 900
Management Analysts $83,720 $40.25 230
Project Management Specialists $83,120 $39.96 340
Registered Nurses $82,920 $39.87 4,050
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $77,090 $37.06 270
General and Operations Managers $75,910 $36.50 1,650
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $75,740 $36.41 240
Instructional Coordinators $72,560 $34.88 290
Accountants and Auditors $72,470 $34.84 710
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $70,570 $33.93 430
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $69,640 $33.48 430
Human Resources Specialists $67,720 $32.56 440
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $67,260 $32.34 530
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $66,920 $32.17 1,120
Public Relations Specialists $66,410 $31.93 230
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $66,210 $31.83 320
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $65,210 $31.35 260
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $64,760 $31.13 240
Computer Network Support Specialists $64,570 $31.04 290
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $64,550 $31.03 550
Social and Community Service Managers $64,290 $30.91 260
Medical Records Specialists $64,020 $30.78 330
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $63,510 $30.54 230
Electricians $62,670 $30.13 330
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $61,690 $29.66 360
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $61,380 $29.51 240
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $60,120 $28.90 200
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $59,690 n/a 500
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $59,620 $28.67 230
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,600 $28.66 2,450
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $59,320 n/a 340
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $57,820 $27.80 380
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $57,030 n/a 880
Computer User Support Specialists $56,630 $27.22 220
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $56,470 $27.15 280
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers $56,090 $26.97 210
Coaches and Scouts $54,820 n/a 220
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants $53,170 $25.56 680
Correctional Officers and Jailers $53,140 $25.55 270
Biological Technicians $51,300 $24.66 510
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $50,310 $24.19 360
Carpenters $49,670 $23.88 420
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $49,070 $23.59 370
Dental Assistants $48,890 $23.51 290
Bus Drivers, School $48,860 $23.49 230
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $48,710 $23.42 1,250
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $48,700 $23.41 710
Billing and Posting Clerks $48,630 $23.38 510
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $47,640 $22.91 650
Construction Laborers $46,830 $22.52 710

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Iowa City by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Registered Nurses 4,050 $82,920 $39.87
Retail Salespersons 2,460 $29,120 $14.00
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 2,450 $59,600 $28.66
Fast Food and Counter Workers 2,380 $28,610 $13.76
Cashiers 2,130 $29,210 $14.04
Waiters and Waitresses 1,700 $28,520 $13.71
General and Operations Managers 1,650 $75,910 $36.50
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 1,630 $34,880 $16.77
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,560 $36,300 $17.45
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,420 $36,540 $17.57
Office Clerks, General 1,380 $43,770 $21.05
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 1,250 $48,710 $23.42
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 1,220 $29,040 n/a
Nursing Assistants 1,200 $37,900 $18.22
Customer Service Representatives 1,170 $37,940 $18.24
Business Operations Specialists, All Other 1,120 $66,920 $32.17
Cooks, Restaurant 1,100 $35,880 $17.25
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 910 $38,000 $18.27
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 900 $85,010 $40.87
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 880 $57,030 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

Iowa City pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Iowa City?

The median across all occupations is $49,390, or $23.74 an hour, covering 92,330 wage and salary workers. The mean is $62,760, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Iowa City pay more than the rest of Iowa?

Yes. The metro median of $49,390 is 3.6% 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 Iowa City?

Physician Assistants ($138,360), Pharmacists ($137,540), Nurse Practitioners ($130,140). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Iowa City unusually full of?

Biological Technicians, at 11.13× 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.