HR Assistant salary and cost of hiring in Iowa
The median HR assistant in Iowa earned $48,490 a year in May 2025[1], 4.2% below the US median of $50,610. That puts Iowa at #29 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-4161. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $35,770 | $48,490 | $63,280 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Iowa earns $38,940–$56,660; the top tenth earns $63,280 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 $69,271 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 HR 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Iowa
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $61,890 | 40 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $56,660 | 40 | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $58,990 | 310 | |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $55,620 | 100 | |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $55,980 | 150 | |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $49,160 | 60 | |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $54,270 | 50 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $52,890 | 100 | |
| Ames, IA | $56,470 | 40 | |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $50,040 | 30 | |
| Dubuque, IA | $51,810 | 60 |
Iowa City, IA pays the most ($55,650) and Dubuque, IA the least ($42,680): $12,970 a year apart for the same job.
What an HR assistant does
An HR assistant runs the admin side of people work: job posts, interview scheduling, onboarding paperwork, employee records and HR questions.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | +0.6% | |
| Wisconsin | +0.4% | |
| Iowa | +0.0% | |
| Florida | -0.3% | |
| Illinois | -0.4% |
Questions
How much does an HR assistant earn in Iowa?
The median was $48,490 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $38,940 to $56,660.
What does it cost to employ an HR assistant in Iowa?
About $69,271 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 HR assistants earn the most?
Iowa City, IA, with a median of $55,650 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434161.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.