Administrative Assistant salary in Dubuque, IA
Dubuque pays administrative assistants close to the Iowa norm. The median is $45,430 a year1, about level with the Iowa statewide median of $45,150 and 4.4% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #238 of 520 areas. BLS counts about 440 people in this job here, 3% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, 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 | $35,820 | $45,430 | $61,290 | |
| Iowa | $33,880 | $45,150 | $60,760 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Dubuque earns $38,670–$54,220. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $61,290, only 1.7 times the bottom tenth, against 2.0 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $15,550 wide, between the figure for Iowa ($13,030) and the US figure ($19,170).
What to budget for an administrative assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,820 | $2,985 | $17.22 | $46,219 |
| 25th percentile | $38,670 | $3,222 | $18.59 | $49,897 |
| Median | $45,430 | $3,786 | $21.84 | $58,619 |
| 75th percentile | $54,220 | $4,518 | $26.07 | $69,961 |
| 90th percentile | $61,290 | $5,108 | $29.47 | $79,084 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,760 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,790, or about $11,342 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 $47,540 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Dubuque, and the Iowa statewide median of $45,150 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Dubuque
At the $45,430 median, a local hire costs about $58,619 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,189 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 administrative assistants 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 #11 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($46,670) and payroll specialists ($44,260). Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,690.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +4.8% | 520 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +2.7% | 1,880 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 440 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -2.6% | 80 | |
| HR Assistant | -6.1% | 60 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #4 of the 15 roles we track in Dubuque (-4.4%), between virtual receptionists (+2.2%) and bookkeepers (-6.0%). The typical role here is at -11.4%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Dubuque than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 7.5% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Dubuque, 9.5% across Iowa and 10.9% 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 $39,810 in the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area to $48,740 in Ames, a gap of $8,930 a year. Of the 11 areas in Iowa with more administrative assistants than Dubuque, 6 pay less, the largest of them the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area ($42,640), Cedar Rapids, IA ($45,110) and the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area ($39,810).
| Area | Median | vs Dubuque | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | +1.8% | 720 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | +1.1% | 640 | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | +0.6% | 1,670 | |
| Dubuque, IA | this area | 440 | |
| Iowa City, IA | -0.1% | 630 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -0.7% | 1,290 | |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | -6.1% | 1,650 |
Dubuque against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Dubuque is #477 of 520 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Iowa, Grand Rapids-Wyoming and Boise City pay just above Dubuque and Chambersburg and Wilmington just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Dubuque. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Dubuque | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot, ND | +4.2% | 440 | jobs | |
| Boise City, ID | +0.1% | 3,380 | pay | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | +0.0% | 4,710 | pay | |
| Dubuque, IA | this area | 440 | ||
| Chambersburg, PA | -0.1% | 620 | pay | |
| Wilmington, NC | -0.1% | 2,070 | pay | |
| Morristown, TN | -9.7% | 440 | jobs | |
| Jacksonville, NC | -15.1% | 440 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Dubuque, IA?
About $58,619 a year at the median, or $4,885 a month: $45,430 in pay plus about $13,189 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Dubuque?
The median was $45,430 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,820, the 90th $61,290, and the middle half earned $38,670 to $54,220.
Is Dubuque cheaper than the rest of Iowa for administrative assistants?
About the same: a median of $45,430 against $45,150 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is Davenport-Moline at $45,710, the next down Iowa City at $45,390.
How many administrative assistants work in Dubuque?
BLS counts about 440 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Iowa total of 12,830. 11 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is Ames, with about 620.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a payroll specialist in Dubuque?
Yes: $1,170 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,430 and $44,260.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6014: 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.