Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Iowa
The median payroll specialist in Iowa earned $54,080 a year in May 2025[1], 7.2% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Iowa at #33 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $39,410 | $54,080 | $70,990 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Iowa earns $46,070–$61,420; the top tenth earns $70,990 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 $77,257 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 payroll specialists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $65,610 | 300 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $60,960 | 40 | |
| Ames, IA | $61,030 | 30 | |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $62,640 | 160 | |
| Iowa City, IA | $61,790 | 40 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $61,640 | 50 | |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $59,900 | 160 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $60,230 | 110 | |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $60,110 | 120 | |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $59,030 | 120 | |
| Dubuque, IA | $46,540 | 80 |
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA pays the most ($58,600) and Dubuque, IA the least ($44,260): $14,340 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Iowa?
The median was $54,080 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $46,070 to $61,420.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Iowa?
About $77,257 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 payroll specialists earn the most?
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, with a median of $58,600 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.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.