Accountant salary in Iowa City, IA
Iowa City is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $75,100 a year1 is 3.0% below the Iowa statewide median of $77,440, and 10.3% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #327 of 521 areas. About 790 accountants work here, 6% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Iowa City, IA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Iowa City against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $50,330 | $75,100 | $115,830 | |
| Iowa | $51,420 | $77,440 | $123,700 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Iowa City earns $63,190–$96,260. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $115,830, only 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $33,070 wide, against $36,060 across Iowa and $42,790 nationally: employers in Iowa City 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 | $50,330 | $4,194 | $24.20 | $64,942 |
| 25th percentile | $63,190 | $5,266 | $30.38 | $81,535 |
| Median | $75,100 | $6,258 | $36.11 | $96,903 |
| 75th percentile | $96,260 | $8,022 | $46.28 | $124,206 |
| 90th percentile | $115,830 | $9,652 | $55.69 | $149,458 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $21,160 over the median, the 25th only $11,910 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $27,303 a year in employer cost. 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 Iowa City, and the Iowa statewide median of $77,440 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Iowa City
At the $75,100 median, a local hire costs about $96,903 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $21,803 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 Iowa City
Of the 16 roles we track in Iowa City, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($96,820); recruiters come next at $71,120.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +28.9% | 420 | |
| Accountant | this role | 790 | |
| Recruiter | -5.3% | 480 | |
| Office Manager | -11.5% | 600 | |
| Paralegal | -11.6% | 330 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #13 of the 16 roles we track in Iowa City (-10.3%), between recruiters (-6.3%) and sales development representatives (-11.2%). The typical role here is at -4.5%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost less in Iowa City than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 9.8% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Iowa City, 9.7% across Iowa and 9.2% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. All 5 areas in Iowa with more accountants than Iowa City also pay more, among them Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($79,290) and Davenport-Moline, IA-IL ($77,600).
| Area | Median | vs Iowa City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | +1.9% | 940 | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | +1.9% | 680 | |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | +0.4% | 1,270 | |
| Iowa City, IA | this area | 790 | |
| Dubuque, IA | -1.3% | 450 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | -2.1% | 540 | |
| Southwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -6.5% | 430 |
Iowa City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Iowa City is #246 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Iowa, Niles and Greenville pay just above Iowa City and Brunswick-St. Simons and Longview just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Iowa City. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Iowa City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | +3.1% | 800 | jobs | |
| Saginaw, MI | +1.6% | 790 | jobs | |
| Billings, MT | +0.9% | 790 | jobs | |
| Greenville, NC | +0.1% | 550 | pay | |
| Niles, MI | +0.1% | 400 | pay | |
| Iowa City, IA | this area | 790 | ||
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | -0.1% | 270 | pay | |
| Longview, TX | -0.1% | 690 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Iowa City, IA?
About $96,903 a year at the median, or $8,075 a month: $75,100 in pay plus about $21,803 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Iowa City?
The median was $75,100 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,330, the 90th $115,830, and the middle half earned $63,190 to $96,260.
Is Iowa City cheaper than the rest of Iowa for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $75,100 against $77,440 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area at $75,390, the next down Dubuque at $74,140.
How many accountants work in Iowa City?
BLS counts about 790 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Iowa total of 13,210. 5 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area, with about 940.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Iowa City?
Yes: $3,980 a year more at the median. The medians are $75,100 and $71,120.
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.