Cost of hiring in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area, with about 1,150 people1. Medians run from $38,250 a year for virtual receptionists to $85,440 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +11.7% | 50 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +6.1% | 60 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | +0.6% | 300 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -4.3% | 1,150 | |
| HR Assistant | -6.1% | 60 | |
| Bookkeeper | -7.9% | 1,130 | |
| Accountant | -8.6% | 680 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -8.7% | 120 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -12.3% | 1,030 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -14.1% | 640 | |
| Project Coordinator | -16.5% | 260 | |
| Office Manager | -16.6% | 610 | |
| Recruiter | -17.2% | 460 | |
| Paralegal | -23.9% | 140 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -24.2% | 370 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -27.2% | 260 | |
| Executive Assistant | -29.2% | 170 |
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 $42,860 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $55,303 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area against the US
The Northeast Iowa nonmetro area pays above the US median for 2 of the 17 roles, most of all for e-commerce order specialists (+11.7%) and data entry specialists (+6.1%), and below it for 14, furthest for executive assistants (-29.2%). For virtual receptionists it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 17 is -12.3%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for e-commerce order specialists, #11 of 287 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #458 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area has more bookkeepers (15.1% of these jobs here, against 8.7% nationally) and payroll specialists (1.6% against 1.0%), and fewer sales development representatives (3.5% against 7.9%) and project coordinators (3.5% against 6.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ is nearest, at -12.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | -12.2% | 17 | 32,410 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | -12.2% | 15 | 2,700 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -12.3% | 15 | 6,210 |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | -12.3% (this area) | 17 | 7,490 |
| Fayetteville, NC | -12.4% | 17 | 11,520 |
| Rapid City, SD | -12.5% | 14 | 7,460 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area span $35,350–$101,470, the widest band (2.9×); paralegals the narrowest, $46,370–$57,250. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 17 roles, paralegals most ($44,740–$101,500 across the US). Budget from the median for project coordinators, sales development representatives, recruiters and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($111,160 against a $85,440 median for project coordinators).
the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area against Iowa
Against Iowa as a whole, the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area pays more for 2 of 17 roles, led by e-commerce order specialists (+14.6%) and virtual receptionists (+2.5%), and less for 14, most of all sales development representatives (-18.4%). It has the lowest median in Iowa for office managers and paralegals.
Other areas in Iowa
By jobs in these roles, the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area is #7 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 |
| 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 |
| Ames, IA | 4,620 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $85,440 a year, about $110,245 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $38,250.
Is hiring in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 14 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all executive assistants (-29.2%). 2 pay more than the US median, led by e-commerce order specialists (+11.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.