Project Coordinator salary in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area
The Southeast Iowa nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for project coordinators: the median of $84,430 a year1 is 12.5% below the Iowa statewide median of $96,540, and 17.5% below the US median of $102,320. Nationally it ranks #366 of 518 areas. About 580 project coordinators work here, 9% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 13-1082, area Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | $59,300 | $84,430 | $140,410 | |
| Iowa | $62,000 | $96,540 | $150,290 | |
| United States | $61,580 | $102,320 | $167,970 |
The middle half of project coordinators in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area earns $70,510–$117,260. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $140,410, only 2.4 times the bottom tenth, against 2.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($97,600) is 16% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $46,750 wide, against $52,810 across Iowa and $54,660 nationally: employers in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a project coordinator here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59,300 | $4,942 | $28.51 | $76,516 |
| 25th percentile | $70,510 | $5,876 | $33.90 | $90,981 |
| Median | $84,430 | $7,036 | $40.59 | $108,942 |
| 75th percentile | $117,260 | $9,772 | $56.38 | $151,303 |
| 90th percentile | $140,410 | $11,701 | $67.50 | $181,174 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $32,830 over the median, the 25th only $13,920 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $42,361 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $102,320 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area, and the Iowa statewide median of $96,540 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $24,512 to the $84,430 median and brings it to $108,942 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for project coordinators 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area
Project coordinators have the highest median of the 17 roles we track in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area; virtual receptionists have the lowest, at $36,330.
| Role | Median | vs project coordinator | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | this role | 580 | |
| Accountant | -10.7% | 1,270 | |
| Recruiter | -22.4% | 930 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -23.9% | 850 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -26.0% | 450 |
Measured against the US median, project coordinators rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area (-17.5%), between medical administrative assistants (-16.6%) and marketing specialists (-18.5%). The typical role here is at -10.2%, so, measured against the US, project coordinators cost less in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Project coordinators hold 4.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area, 4.9% across Iowa and 6.7% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $81,210 in the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area to $104,690 in Dubuque, a gap of $23,480 a year. All 3 areas in Iowa with more project coordinators than the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area also pay more, among them Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($101,150) and Cedar Rapids, IA ($93,760).
| Area | Median | vs the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | +11.1% | 850 | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | +1.2% | 260 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | +0.8% | 200 | |
| Southwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | +0.2% | 140 | |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | this area | 580 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | -3.4% | 190 | |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -3.8% | 340 |
the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area is #191 of 517 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Iowa, Lexington-Fayette and Daphne-Fairhope pay just above the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area and Missoula and Fond du Lac just below. All four are within $220 a year of the median in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many project coordinators, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | +18.4% | 590 | jobs | |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | +4.9% | 570 | jobs | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | +0.1% | n/a | pay | |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | +0.1% | 2,020 | pay | |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | this area | 580 | ||
| Missoula, MT | -0.2% | 360 | pay | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | -0.3% | 330 | pay | |
| Columbia, MO | -4.2% | 580 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a project coordinator in Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro)?
About $108,942 a year at the median, or $9,078 a month: $84,430 in pay plus about $24,512 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for project coordinators in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area?
The median was $84,430 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $59,300, the 90th $140,410, and the middle half earned $70,510 to $117,260.
Is the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Iowa for project coordinators?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $84,430 against $96,540 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area at $84,560, the next down Waterloo-Cedar Falls at $81,600.
How many project coordinators work in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 580 in the May 2025 survey. That is 9% of the Iowa total of 6,720. 3 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is Davenport-Moline, with about 650.
Does a project coordinator cost more than an accountant in the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area?
Yes: $9,040 a year more at the median. The medians are $84,430 and $75,390.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1082: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.