Accountant salary in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area
The Northeast Iowa nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $76,520 a year1 is 1.2% below the Iowa statewide median of $77,440, and 8.6% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #264 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 680 people in this job here, 5% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | $50,670 | $76,520 | $124,030 | |
| Iowa | $51,420 | $77,440 | $123,700 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $124,030, 2.4 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area earns $60,830–$98,090. The mean ($83,930) is 10% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $37,260 wide, between the figure for Iowa ($36,060) and the US figure ($42,790).
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,670 | $4,222 | $24.36 | $65,381 |
| 25th percentile | $60,830 | $5,069 | $29.25 | $78,490 |
| Median | $76,520 | $6,377 | $36.79 | $98,735 |
| 75th percentile | $98,090 | $8,174 | $47.16 | $126,568 |
| 90th percentile | $124,030 | $10,336 | $59.63 | $160,039 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,690 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $21,570, or about $27,832 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 the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area, and the Iowa statewide median of $77,440 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area
At the $76,520 median, a local hire costs about $98,735 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,215 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 the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($85,440); recruiters come next at $62,850.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +11.7% | 260 | |
| Accountant | this role | 680 | |
| Recruiter | -17.9% | 460 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -22.0% | 370 | |
| Office Manager | -24.3% | 610 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area (-8.6%), between bookkeepers (-7.9%) and payroll specialists (-8.7%). The typical role here is at -12.3%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 9.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area, 9.7% across Iowa and 9.1% 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. Of the 6 areas in Iowa with more accountants than the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area, 2 pay less: the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area ($75,390) and Iowa City, IA ($75,100).
| Area | Median | vs the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | +1.4% | 1,560 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | +0.9% | 1,190 | |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | +0.0% | 940 | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | this area | 680 | |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | -1.5% | 1,270 | |
| Iowa City, IA | -1.9% | 790 | |
| Dubuque, IA | -3.1% | 450 |
the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area is #286 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Iowa, Harrisonburg and Bloomington pay just above the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area and Bloomington and Harrisburg-Carlisle just below. All four are within $120 a year of the median in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg, VA | +3.2% | 680 | jobs | |
| Bloomington, IN | +0.2% | 480 | pay | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | +0.0% | 450 | pay | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | this area | 680 | ||
| Bloomington, IL | -0.0% | 750 | pay | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -0.0% | 3,210 | pay | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -5.2% | 680 | jobs | |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | -13.2% | 690 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro)?
About $98,735 a year at the median, or $8,228 a month: $76,520 in pay plus about $22,215 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area?
The median was $76,520 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,670, the 90th $124,030, and the middle half earned $60,830 to $98,090.
Is the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Iowa for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $76,520 against $77,440 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area at $76,540, the next down the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area at $75,390.
How many accountants work in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 680 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Iowa total of 13,210. 6 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is Iowa City, with about 790.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area?
Yes: $13,670 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,520 and $62,850.
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.