Accountant salary in Dubuque, IA
Dubuque is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $74,140 a year1 is 4.3% below the Iowa statewide median of $77,440, and 11.4% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #359 of 521 areas. About 450 accountants work here, 3% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Dubuque, IA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Dubuque against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $50,800 | $74,140 | $118,130 | |
| Iowa | $51,420 | $77,440 | $123,700 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $118,130, 2.3 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Dubuque earns $61,160–$91,110. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $29,950 wide, against $36,060 across Iowa and $42,790 nationally: employers in Dubuque pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,800 | $4,233 | $24.42 | $65,548 |
| 25th percentile | $61,160 | $5,097 | $29.40 | $78,916 |
| Median | $74,140 | $6,178 | $35.64 | $95,665 |
| 75th percentile | $91,110 | $7,592 | $43.80 | $117,561 |
| 90th percentile | $118,130 | $9,844 | $56.79 | $152,426 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $12,980 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $16,970, or about $21,897 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Dubuque, and the Iowa statewide median of $77,440 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Dubuque
At the $74,140 median, a local hire costs about $95,665 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $21,525 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Dubuque
Of the 15 roles we track in Dubuque, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($104,690); recruiters come next at $64,390.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +41.2% | 290 | |
| Accountant | this role | 450 | |
| Recruiter | -13.2% | 380 | |
| Office Manager | -13.6% | 440 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -16.4% | 210 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #8 of the 15 roles we track in Dubuque (-11.4%), between paralegals (-11.4%) and sales development representatives (-11.5%). The typical role here is at -11.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 7.7% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Dubuque, 9.8% across Iowa and 9.3% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $70,190 in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area to $79,320 in Ames, a gap of $9,130 a year. Of the 10 areas in Iowa with more accountants than Dubuque, 1 pays less: Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA ($73,530).
| Area | Median | vs Dubuque | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | +3.2% | 940 | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | +3.2% | 680 | |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | +1.7% | 1,270 | |
| Iowa City, IA | +1.3% | 790 | |
| Dubuque, IA | this area | 450 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | -0.8% | 540 | |
| Southwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -5.3% | 430 |
Dubuque against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Dubuque is #379 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Iowa, Lebanon and Victoria pay just above Dubuque and Cheyenne and Elizabethtown just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Dubuque. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Dubuque | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, MI | +23.8% | 450 | jobs | |
| Dalton, GA | +4.4% | 450 | jobs | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | +3.2% | 450 | jobs | |
| Victoria, TX | +0.2% | 230 | pay | |
| Lebanon, PA | +0.1% | 330 | pay | |
| Dubuque, IA | this area | 450 | ||
| Cheyenne, WY | -0.1% | 700 | pay | |
| Elizabethtown, KY | -0.2% | 250 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Dubuque, IA?
About $95,665 a year at the median, or $7,972 a month: $74,140 in pay plus about $21,525 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Dubuque?
The median was $74,140 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,800, the 90th $118,130, and the middle half earned $61,160 to $91,110.
Is Dubuque cheaper than the rest of Iowa for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $74,140 against $77,440 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is Iowa City at $75,100, the next down Waterloo-Cedar Falls at $73,530.
How many accountants work in Dubuque?
BLS counts about 450 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Iowa total of 13,210. 10 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is Sioux City, with about 520.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Dubuque?
Yes: $9,750 a year more at the median. The medians are $74,140 and $64,390.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.