Cost of hiring in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 15 jobs in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area, with about 800 people1. Medians run from $35,140 a year for e-commerce order specialists to $84,560 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | -6.4% | 120 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -7.1% | 800 | |
| Bookkeeper | -8.0% | 800 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -10.9% | 680 | |
| Office Manager | -12.2% | 430 | |
| HR Assistant | -13.1% | 30 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -14.5% | 470 | |
| Accountant | -16.1% | 430 | |
| Recruiter | -17.0% | 300 | |
| Project Coordinator | -17.4% | 140 | |
| Paralegal | -22.6% | 100 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -23.9% | n/a | |
| Marketing Specialist | -24.2% | 200 | |
| Executive Assistant | -31.2% | 130 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -32.7% | 200 |
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 $41,600 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $53,677 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area against the US
The Southwest Iowa nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 15 roles. The gap is smallest for virtual receptionists (-6.4%) and customer support specialists (-7.1%) and largest for sales development representatives (-32.7%). The middle gap across all 15 is -16.1%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for customer support specialists, #244 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for e-commerce order specialists, #280 of 287.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area has more bookkeepers (16.6% of these jobs here, against 8.9% nationally) and medical administrative assistants (9.7% against 6.2%), and fewer project coordinators (2.9% against 6.9%) and virtual receptionists (2.5% against 5.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Parkersburg-Vienna, WV is nearest, at -16.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | -15.8% | 15 | 4,760 |
| Southwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -16.1% (this area) | 15 | 4,830 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | -16.1% | 13 | 3,390 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | -16.3% | 17 | 17,370 |
| Morgantown, WV | -16.4% | 16 | 5,530 |
| Victoria, TX | -16.4% | 13 | 3,320 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area span $24,130–$97,990, the widest band (4.1×); e-commerce order specialists the narrowest, $35,140–$49,470. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 15 roles, paralegals most ($44,740–$101,500 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, e-commerce order specialists, recruiters and 4 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($57,960 against a $47,120 median for sales development representatives).
the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area against Iowa
Against Iowa as a whole, the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 15 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for bookkeepers (-3.3%) and is furthest below for sales development representatives (-24.5%). It has the lowest median in Iowa for accountants, executive assistants and sales development representatives and 2 more roles.
Other areas in Iowa
By jobs in these roles, the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area is #11 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 |
| Dubuque, IA | 5,880 | 15 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | 5,340 | 15 |
| Ames, IA | 4,620 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $84,560 a year, about $109,110 with benefits; the lowest is E-commerce Order Specialist, $35,140.
Is hiring in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 15 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for sales development representatives (-32.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.