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Data Entry Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Iowa

The median data entry specialist in Iowa earned $43,640 a year in May 2025[1], 5.6% above the US median of $41,340. That puts Iowa at #15 of 49 states for this job.

$3,637median pay per month in Iowa
$5,195employer cost per month with benefits
$20.98median pay per hour
1,180people in this job in Iowa

BLS occupation 43-9021. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.

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Salary range

Range10thMedian90th
Iowa$32,210$43,640$57,920
United States$31,200$41,340$58,790
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

The middle half of data entry specialists in Iowa earns $39,390–$52,740; the top tenth earns $57,920 or more, 1.8 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 $62,343 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 data entry specialists 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].

$62,343local hire, first year incl. benefits
-remote hire, first year incl. fee
-difference in year one
-of the local cost saved

Pay by metro area in Iowa

AreaMedian75th percentileJobs
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
$45,520
$54,24060
Cedar Rapids, IA
$45,330
$50,660110
Ames, IA
$45,140
$53,44050
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
$44,550
$52,74040
Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$43,860
$46,57060
Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$43,710
$48,41090
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
$42,580
$56,610460
Iowa City, IA
$40,260
$45,67040
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$40,250
$47,480120
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
$38,960
$44,910150

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA pays the most ($45,520) and Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL the least ($38,960): $6,560 a year apart for the same job.

What a data entry specialist does

A data entry specialist moves information into the right systems accurately and fast: forms, invoices, product data, CRM records and research lists.

Neighbours in the ranking

StateMedianvs Iowa
Minnesota
$44,280
+1.5%
Colorado
$43,910
+0.6%
Iowa
$43,640
+0.0%
New Hampshire
$43,440
-0.5%
Vermont
$43,280
-0.8%

Questions

How much does a data entry specialist earn in Iowa?

The median was $43,640 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $39,390 to $52,740.

What does it cost to employ a data entry specialist in Iowa?

About $62,343 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 data entry specialists earn the most?

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, with a median of $45,520 a year.

Other roles in Iowa

Hire data entry specialists remotely

How to hire data entry specialists

Sources

  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-9021: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes439021.htm
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
  3. Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.