Comprehensive salary overview for Iowa based on 1,548,990 workers across 700 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
These are the highest paying occupations in Iowa based on median annual salary from BLS data.
| # | Occupation | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nurse Anesthetists | $229,950 | $245,780 | 580 |
| 2 | Orthodontists | $223,020 | $289,570 | 30 |
| 3 | Chief Executives | $178,530 | $211,710 | 3,520 |
| 4 | Dentists, General | $174,990 | $216,520 | 850 |
| 5 | Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $170,810 | $165,580 | N/A |
| 6 | Aerospace Engineers | $150,010 | $137,430 | N/A |
| 7 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $137,870 | $145,620 | 1,520 |
| 8 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $136,610 | $149,180 | 3,650 |
| 9 | Nurse Midwives | $136,450 | $149,040 | 70 |
| 10 | Physician Assistants | $133,400 | $135,450 | 1,200 |
| 11 | Pharmacist | $133,220 | $131,150 | 2,920 |
| 12 | Database Architects | $131,370 | $124,910 | 280 |
| 13 | Airline Pilot | $130,980 | $158,090 | 100 |
| 14 | Financial Manager | $130,600 | $142,600 | 9,400 |
| 15 | Actuaries | $129,870 | $128,070 | 650 |
| 16 | Nurse Practitioners | $129,420 | $133,020 | 2,810 |
| 17 | Medical Dosimetrists | $128,690 | $132,180 | 30 |
| 18 | Marketing Manager | $128,150 | $137,990 | 2,210 |
| 19 | Sales Manager | $128,010 | $140,470 | 2,960 |
| 20 | Managers, All Other | $127,680 | $134,620 | 3,360 |
| 21 | Podiatrists | $126,790 | $144,150 | 100 |
| 22 | Psychologists, All Other | $123,740 | $104,670 | 80 |
| 23 | Human Resources Manager | $122,200 | $132,140 | 1,660 |
| 24 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $121,520 | $117,510 | 180 |
| 25 | Physicists | $120,810 | $157,580 | 120 |
The 10 lowest paying occupations in Iowa by median annual salary.
| Occupation | Median Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bartenders | $22,500 | 8,740 |
| Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants | $22,790 | 300 |
| Gambling Dealers | $22,900 | 1,020 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $23,100 | 750 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $25,450 | 1,230 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $25,550 | 4,310 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,140 | 21,440 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,710 | 3,020 |
| Dishwashers | $26,910 | 2,960 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $27,780 | 300 |
The most common jobs in Iowa by total number of workers.
| Occupation | Workers | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Cashiers | 43,160 | $28,780 |
| Retail Salespersons | 37,600 | $30,030 |
| Truck Driver | 37,430 | $55,080 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 37,060 | $28,400 |
| General and Operations Managers | 33,560 | $80,620 |
| Registered Nurse | 33,480 | $76,960 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 32,150 | $43,370 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 28,810 | $44,990 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 26,340 | $36,130 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 26,020 | $37,370 |
See how average salaries in Iowa compare to other states across the country.
All salary data on this page comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 estimates. The average salary shown is the mean across all tracked occupations weighted by employment. For methodology details, see our Methodology page.