Bookkeeper salary in Iowa City, IA
For this job Iowa City sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $49,220 a year1. That is 2.2% above the Iowa statewide median of $48,180, and 2.9% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #173 of 521 areas. About 660 bookkeepers work here, 5% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, 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 | $34,300 | $49,220 | $70,270 | |
| Iowa | $33,240 | $48,180 | $66,490 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $70,270, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Iowa City earns $41,840–$60,250. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $18,410 wide, wider than in Iowa as a whole ($16,400) and the US ($17,950), so what a bookkeeper earns in Iowa City depends more on the employer.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,300 | $2,858 | $16.49 | $44,258 |
| 25th percentile | $41,840 | $3,487 | $20.12 | $53,987 |
| Median | $49,220 | $4,102 | $23.66 | $63,510 |
| 75th percentile | $60,250 | $5,021 | $28.97 | $77,742 |
| 90th percentile | $70,270 | $5,856 | $33.78 | $90,671 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $11,030 a year in pay and about $14,232 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,380 in pay. 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 $50,670 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Iowa City, and the Iowa statewide median of $48,180 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Iowa City
At the $49,220 median, a local hire costs about $63,510 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,290 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 bookkeepers 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 #12 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($50,130) and administrative assistants ($45,390). Project Coordinator is the highest at $96,820.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +13.1% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +1.8% | 1,290 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 660 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.8% | 630 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.0% | 1,190 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #6 of the 16 roles we track in Iowa City (-2.9%), between data entry specialists (-2.6%) and payroll specialists (-3.1%). The typical role here is at -4.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 8.2% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Iowa City, 10.3% across Iowa and 8.7% 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 $46,600 in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area to $50,610 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, a gap of $4,010 a year. Of the 8 areas in Iowa with more bookkeepers than Iowa City, 7 pay less, the largest of them the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area ($46,640), the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area ($46,870) and Davenport-Moline, IA-IL ($47,840).
| Area | Median | vs Iowa City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | +2.8% | 3,670 | |
| Iowa City, IA | this area | 660 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -1.1% | 1,120 | |
| Ames, IA | -2.5% | 470 | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -2.8% | 1,360 | |
| Dubuque, IA | -3.2% | 520 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | -3.4% | 580 |
Iowa City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Iowa City is #359 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Iowa, Omaha and Medford pay just above Iowa City and Elkhart-Goshen and Akron just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Iowa City. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Iowa City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | +11.5% | 660 | jobs | |
| Kingston, NY | +10.7% | 670 | jobs | |
| Redding, CA | +3.8% | 660 | jobs | |
| Medford, OR | +0.1% | 1,340 | pay | |
| Omaha, NE-IA | +0.0% | 4,110 | pay | |
| Iowa City, IA | this area | 660 | ||
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | -0.1% | 1,190 | pay | |
| Akron, OH | -0.1% | 2,730 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Iowa City, IA?
About $63,510 a year at the median, or $5,292 a month: $49,220 in pay plus about $14,290 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for bookkeepers in Iowa City?
The median was $49,220 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,300, the 90th $70,270, and the middle half earned $41,840 to $60,250.
Is Iowa City cheaper than the rest of Iowa for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $49,220 against $48,180 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is Des Moines-West Des Moines at $50,610, the next down Cedar Rapids at $48,690.
How many bookkeepers work in Iowa City?
BLS counts about 660 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Iowa total of 14,020. 8 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is Sioux City, with about 690.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Iowa City?
Yes: $3,830 a year more at the median. The medians are $49,220 and $45,390.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: 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.