Bookkeeper salary and cost of hiring in Iowa
The median bookkeeper in Iowa earned $48,180 a year in May 2025[1], 4.9% below the US median of $50,670. That puts Iowa at #33 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3031. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $33,240 | $48,180 | $66,490 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Iowa earns $41,140–$57,540; the top tenth earns $66,490 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Iowa median that makes about $68,829 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Iowa
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $59,470 | 3,670 | |
| Iowa City, IA | $60,250 | 660 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $57,790 | 1,120 | |
| Ames, IA | $59,000 | 470 | |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $56,000 | 1,360 | |
| Dubuque, IA | $56,690 | 520 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $56,440 | 580 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $53,540 | 690 | |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $55,970 | 1,620 | |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $55,660 | 1,130 | |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $54,490 | 1,790 | |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $54,180 | 800 |
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA pays the most ($50,610) and Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area the least ($46,600): $4,010 a year apart for the same job.
What a bookkeeper does
A bookkeeper records the company's transactions, reconciles bank accounts, keeps receivables and payables in order and prepares the books for the accountant.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | +0.5% | |
| Idaho | +0.3% | |
| Iowa | +0.0% | |
| Tennessee | +0.0% | |
| New Mexico | -0.2% |
Questions
How much does a bookkeeper earn in Iowa?
The median was $48,180 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $41,140 to $57,540.
What does it cost to employ a bookkeeper in Iowa?
About $68,829 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Iowa do bookkeepers earn the most?
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, with a median of $50,610 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433031.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.