Cost of hiring in Iowa City, IA
Medical Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 16 jobs in Iowa City, with about 1,290 people1. Medians run from $38,740 a year for virtual receptionists to $96,820 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Iowa City
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +10.0% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +9.1% | 1,290 | |
| Paralegal | +5.6% | 330 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | +1.9% | 300 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -2.6% | 40 | |
| Bookkeeper | -2.9% | 660 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -3.1% | 40 | |
| Office Manager | -4.4% | 600 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -4.5% | 630 | |
| Project Coordinator | -5.4% | 420 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -5.4% | 1,190 | |
| Recruiter | -6.3% | 480 | |
| Accountant | -10.3% | 790 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -11.2% | 330 | |
| Executive Assistant | -18.1% | 430 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -19.0% | 460 |
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 $50,130 median for medical administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $64,684 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Iowa City against the US
Iowa City pays above the US median for 4 of the 16 roles, most of all for HR assistants (+10.0%) and medical administrative assistants (+9.1%), and below it for 12, furthest for marketing specialists (-19.0%). The middle gap across all 16 is -4.5%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for medical administrative assistants, #32 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for accountants, #327 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Iowa City has more medical administrative assistants (16.1% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and executive assistants (5.4% against 2.9%), and fewer payroll specialists (0.5% against 1.0%) and sales development representatives (4.1% against 8.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Green Bay, WI is nearest, at -4.5%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -4.4% | 17 | 32,820 |
| Green Bay, WI | -4.5% | 17 | 16,460 |
| Iowa City, IA | -4.5% (this area) | 16 | 8,030 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | -4.5% | 16 | 6,260 |
| Albuquerque, NM | -4.5% | 17 | 48,070 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | -4.6% | 17 | 11,350 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in Iowa City span $33,710–$113,160, the widest band (3.4×); executive assistants the narrowest, $48,420–$77,060. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 8 of 16 roles, executive assistants most ($50,560–$109,850 across the US). Budget from the median for project coordinators, sales development representatives, customer support specialists and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($108,370 against a $96,820 median for project coordinators).
Iowa City against Iowa
Against Iowa as a whole, Iowa City pays more for 8 of 16 roles, led by medical administrative assistants (+22.3%) and paralegals (+21.7%), and less for 4, most of all customer support specialists (-8.1%). It has the highest median in Iowa for paralegals, HR assistants and medical administrative assistants.
Other areas in Iowa
By jobs in these roles, Iowa City is #6 of 12 areas in Iowa. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Des Moines-West Des Moines to the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 45,480 | 17 |
| 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 |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | 7,490 | 17 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 6,400 | 17 |
| Dubuque, IA | 5,880 | 15 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | 5,340 | 15 |
| Southwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | 4,830 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Iowa City?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $96,820 a year, about $124,929 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $38,740.
Is hiring in Iowa City cheaper than the US median?
For 12 of the 16 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-19.0%). 4 pay more than the US median, led by HR assistants (+10.0%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.