Cost of hiring in Dubuque, IA
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 15 jobs in Dubuque, with about 1,880 people1. Medians run from $38,830 a year for virtual receptionists to $104,690 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Dubuque
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Support Specialist | +4.2% | 1,880 | |
| Project Coordinator | +2.3% | 290 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | +2.2% | 200 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -4.4% | 440 | |
| Bookkeeper | -6.0% | 520 | |
| Office Manager | -7.8% | 440 | |
| Paralegal | -11.4% | 80 | |
| Accountant | -11.4% | 450 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -11.5% | 210 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -14.3% | 410 | |
| Recruiter | -15.2% | 380 | |
| HR Assistant | -15.7% | 60 | |
| Executive Assistant | -21.2% | 110 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -21.7% | 330 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -24.0% | 80 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $46,670 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $60,219 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Dubuque against the US
Dubuque pays above the US median for 3 of the 15 roles, most of all for customer support specialists (+4.2%) and project coordinators (+2.3%), and below it for 12, furthest for payroll specialists (-24.0%). The middle gap across all 15 is -11.4%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for project coordinators, #52 of 518 areas by median pay; its lowest is for payroll specialists, #460 of 486.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Dubuque has more customer support specialists (32.0% of these jobs here, against 16.6% nationally) and HR assistants (1.0% against 0.6%), and fewer sales development representatives (3.6% against 8.0%) and paralegals (1.4% against 2.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Manhattan, KS is nearest, at -11.5%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandusky, OH | -11.1% | 15 | 3,400 |
| Dubuque, IA | -11.4% (this area) | 15 | 5,880 |
| Manhattan, KS | -11.5% | 15 | 5,610 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | -11.5% | 15 | 6,770 |
| Tulsa, OK | -11.6% | 17 | 48,650 |
| Missoula, MT | -11.7% | 14 | 5,420 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Dubuque span $35,780–$103,080, the widest band (2.9×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $34,740–$48,240. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 15 of 15 roles, payroll specialists most ($39,500–$81,350 across the US). Budget from the median for marketing specialists, recruiters and sales development representatives: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($69,410 against a $61,660 median for marketing specialists).
Dubuque against Iowa
Against Iowa as a whole, Dubuque pays more for 4 of 15 roles, led by project coordinators (+8.4%) and virtual receptionists (+4.0%), and less for 8, most of all payroll specialists (-18.2%). It has the highest median in Iowa for project coordinators and virtual receptionists, and the lowest for payroll specialists and HR assistants.
Other areas in Iowa
By jobs in these roles, Dubuque is #9 of 12 areas in Iowa. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Davenport-Moline to Ames.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | 16,150 | 17 |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | 13,550 | 17 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 13,480 | 17 |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | 9,880 | 17 |
| Iowa City, IA | 8,030 | 16 |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | 7,490 | 17 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 6,400 | 17 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | 5,340 | 15 |
| Southwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | 4,830 | 15 |
| Ames, IA | 4,620 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Dubuque?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $104,690 a year, about $135,084 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $38,830.
Is hiring in Dubuque cheaper than the US median?
For 12 of the 15 roles, yes, most of all payroll specialists (-24.0%). 3 pay more than the US median, led by customer support specialists (+4.2%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.