Highest-Paying Jobs in Iowa (2025)
Ranking 149 occupations by median salary in Iowa · Source: BLS OES & H-1B filings
Avg. Median Salary (IA)
$96,473
-5.2% vs national avg
National Median
$101,797
across all states
Total Employed
758K+
workers tracked in Iowa
Top 25 Highest-Paying Jobs in Iowa
Occupations in Iowa ranked by median annual salary (2025 BLS OES data).
| Rank | Occupation | Median Salary | vs National | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency Medicine Physician | $429,050 | +21.3% | 290 |
| 2 | Radiologist | $405,220 | +7.8% | 130 |
| 3 | Surgeon | $370,390 | -1.9% | 110 |
| 4 | Obstetrician and Gynecologist | $356,020 | +15.9% | 180 |
| 5 | Psychiatrist | $295,270 | +14.6% | 170 |
| 6 | Cardiologist | $283,070 | -42.1% | 100 |
| 7 | Nurse Anesthetist | $273,070 | +11.3% | 380 |
| 8 | Family Medicine Physician | $265,200 | +2.8% | 1K |
| 9 | Pediatrician | $262,440 | +21.8% | 230 |
| 10 | Chief Executive Officer | $211,190 | -0.7% | 3K |
| 11 | Dentist | $181,520 | +3.3% | 1K |
| 12 | Physicist | $178,110 | +15.8% | 110 |
| 13 | Engineering Manager | $147,320 | -11.3% | 2K |
| 14 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | $143,780 | -11.7% | 4K |
| 15 | Pharmacist | $138,860 | -2.8% | 3K |
| 16 | Podiatrist | $134,830 | -24.4% | 100 |
| 17 | Physician Assistant | $134,770 | -0.9% | 1K |
| 18 | Sales Manager | $134,010 | -3.8% | 3K |
| 19 | Financial Manager | $133,320 | -11.6% | 9K |
| 20 | Airline Pilot | $131,730 | -38.6% | 100 |
| 21 | Nurse Midwife | $131,360 | -1.1% | 80 |
| 22 | Marketing Manager | $131,120 | -10.5% | 2K |
| 23 | Nurse Practitioner | $130,160 | -2.7% | 3K |
| 24 | Actuary | $128,690 | +3.1% | 530 |
| 25 | Human Resources Manager | $126,370 | -8.8% | 2K |
Healthcare
Emergency Medicine Physician
290 employed
$429,050
+21.3% vs national
Radiologist
130 employed
$405,220
+7.8% vs national
Surgeon
110 employed
$370,390
-1.9% vs national
Obstetrician and Gynecologist
180 employed
$356,020
+15.9% vs national
Psychiatrist
170 employed
$295,270
+14.6% vs national
Cardiologist
100 employed
$283,070
-42.1% vs national
Nurse Anesthetist
380 employed
$273,070
+11.3% vs national
Family Medicine Physician
1K employed
$265,200
+2.8% vs national
Pediatrician
230 employed
$262,440
+21.8% vs national
Dentist
1K employed
$181,520
+3.3% vs national
Pharmacist
3K employed
$138,860
-2.8% vs national
Podiatrist
100 employed
$134,830
-24.4% vs national
Physician Assistant
1K employed
$134,770
-0.9% vs national
Nurse Midwife
80 employed
$131,360
-1.1% vs national
Nurse Practitioner
3K employed
$130,160
-2.7% vs national
Optometrist
450 employed
$125,380
-7.9% vs national
Veterinarian
1K employed
$124,610
-0.3% vs national
Internal Medicine Physician
380 employed
$122,920
-52.8% vs national
Medical and Health Services Manager
6K employed
$101,940
-15.3% vs national
Physical Therapist
3K employed
$97,560
-4.0% vs national
Occupational Therapist
1K employed
$89,910
-9.0% vs national
Dental Hygienist
2K employed
$84,010
-13.3% vs national
Speech-Language Pathologist
2K employed
$81,050
-11.2% vs national
Registered Nurse
34K employed
$78,630
-16.4% vs national
Respiratory Therapist
910 employed
$74,760
-10.9% vs national
Dietitian and Nutritionist
630 employed
$72,690
-1.1% vs national
Radiologic Technologist
3K employed
$65,930
-18.9% vs national
Licensed Practical Nurse
6K employed
$62,630
-6.2% vs national
Mental Health Counselor
4K employed
$60,880
+2.5% vs national
Social Worker
1K employed
$48,530
-15.1% vs national
Dental Assistant
3K employed
$48,430
-1.4% vs national
Medical Assistant
6K employed
$45,480
+2.0% vs national
Pharmacy Technician
5K employed
$44,860
-1.2% vs national
Rehabilitation Counselor
2K employed
$39,630
-17.7% vs national
Nursing Assistant (CNA)
23K employed
$39,350
-5.9% vs national
Home Health and Personal Care Aide
26K employed
$36,080
+3.3% vs national
Management
Chief Executive Officer
3K employed
$211,190
-0.7% vs national
Sales Manager
3K employed
$134,010
-3.8% vs national
Marketing Manager
2K employed
$131,120
-10.5% vs national
Human Resources Manager
2K employed
$126,370
-8.8% vs national
Purchasing Manager
610 employed
$121,580
-13.1% vs national
Public Relations Manager
630 employed
$120,730
-6.7% vs national
Administrative Services Manager
1K employed
$116,920
+3.1% vs national
Training and Development Manager
290 employed
$108,330
-13.2% vs national
Industrial Production Manager
4K employed
$106,510
-14.4% vs national
Construction Manager
3K employed
$99,280
-13.1% vs national
Project Management Specialist
7K employed
$96,540
-2.2% vs national
General and Operations Manager
31K employed
$87,690
-18.9% vs national
Management Analyst
4K employed
$85,530
-12.5% vs national
Human Resources Specialist
8K employed
$66,710
-8.2% vs national
Property and Real Estate Manager
2K employed
$57,980
-15.2% vs national
Science
Physicist
110 employed
$178,110
+15.8% vs national
Biochemist and Biophysicist
140 employed
$101,090
+1.9% vs national
Psychologist
440 employed
$91,690
-5.7% vs national
Chemist
570 employed
$86,100
-6.4% vs national
Medical Scientist
1K employed
$83,850
-9.1% vs national
Urban and Regional Planner
300 employed
$79,100
-5.6% vs national
Environmental Scientist
690 employed
$78,780
-1.6% vs national
Geoscientist
40 employed
$74,460
-17.9% vs national
Engineering
Engineering Manager
2K employed
$147,320
-11.3% vs national
Chemical Engineer
40 employed
$117,590
+1.7% vs national
Electrical Engineer
1K employed
$105,820
-7.5% vs national
Mechanical Engineer
3K employed
$97,700
-7.3% vs national
Industrial Engineer
4K employed
$97,690
-8.3% vs national
Civil Engineer
3K employed
$96,430
-2.7% vs national
Environmental Engineer
150 employed
$94,830
-8.9% vs national
Biomedical Engineer
90 employed
$81,710
-21.0% vs national
Materials Engineer
200 employed
$64,270
-41.0% vs national
Technology
Computer and Information Systems Manager
4K employed
$143,780
-11.7% vs national
Computer Hardware Engineer
130 employed
$125,120
-3.9% vs national
Database Administrator
240 employed
$124,040
-6.4% vs national
Information Security Analyst
1K employed
$119,710
+2.4% vs national
Software Developer
9K employed
$114,890
-9.8% vs national
Software Engineer
4K employed
$107,340
+0.6% vs national
Computer Network Architect
1K employed
$103,050
-18.5% vs national
Computer Systems Analyst
5K employed
$95,920
-7.9% vs national
Data Scientist
2K employed
$95,830
-10.7% vs national
Network Administrator
3K employed
$84,500
-9.8% vs national
Operations Research Analyst
300 employed
$80,580
-9.7% vs national
Statistician
250 employed
$80,150
-18.7% vs national
Computer Programmer
950 employed
$79,180
-17.5% vs national
Web and Digital Interface Designer
670 employed
$69,060
-19.6% vs national
Computer Network Support Specialist
2K employed
$64,600
-11.8% vs national
Web Developer
420 employed
$64,210
-25.6% vs national
Computer User Support Specialist
6K employed
$58,810
-3.2% vs national
Data Analyst
30 employed
$49,020
-36.0% vs national
Multimedia Artist and Animator
$47,530
-39.7% vs national
Finance
Financial Manager
9K employed
$133,320
-11.6% vs national
Actuary
530 employed
$128,690
+3.1% vs national
Economist
70 employed
$96,310
-13.5% vs national
Financial Analyst
2K employed
$92,370
-4.9% vs national
Personal Financial Advisor
2K employed
$92,310
-6.8% vs national
Budget Analyst
390 employed
$86,550
-2.0% vs national
Loan Officer
3K employed
$83,670
+9.6% vs national
Financial Examiner
1K employed
$80,370
-10.0% vs national
Tax Examiner
1K employed
$79,390
-1.3% vs national
Accountant
13K employed
$77,440
-6.2% vs national
Credit Analyst
480 employed
$76,760
-6.0% vs national
Compliance Officer
4K employed
$75,620
-4.2% vs national
Securities Sales Agent
2K employed
$64,290
-11.4% vs national
Insurance Sales Agent
7K employed
$60,140
-5.3% vs national
Skilled Trades
Airline Pilot
100 employed
$131,730
-38.6% vs national
Construction Supervisor
10K employed
$78,510
-5.4% vs national
Plumber
6K employed
$63,890
-6.8% vs national
Electrician
10K employed
$60,860
-12.2% vs national
Maintenance and Repair Worker
17K employed
$52,160
+3.0% vs national
Automotive Service Technician
8K employed
$50,510
-3.2% vs national
Air Traffic Controller
40 employed
$48,870
-14.2% vs national
Construction Laborer
14K employed
$48,490
-1.6% vs national
Legal
Creative
Art Director
280 employed
$80,940
-14.7% vs national
Commercial and Industrial Designer
440 employed
$70,420
-14.0% vs national
Producer and Director
720 employed
$58,550
-17.2% vs national
Interior Designer
510 employed
$58,040
-11.9% vs national
Audio and Video Technician
290 employed
$51,030
-6.0% vs national
Graphic Designer
2K employed
$50,310
-17.0% vs national
Business & Operations
Logistician
2K employed
$78,740
-5.6% vs national
Purchasing Agent
5K employed
$70,360
-8.5% vs national
Market Research Analyst
9K employed
$66,390
-8.9% vs national
Training and Development Specialist
5K employed
$66,110
-3.7% vs national
Public Relations Specialist
3K employed
$62,970
-9.3% vs national
Writer and Author
290 employed
$61,010
-13.7% vs national
Editor
900 employed
$57,200
-14.2% vs national
Real Estate Broker
$50,140
-28.4% vs national
Education
Instructional Coordinator
3K employed
$74,970
-1.7% vs national
Secondary School Teacher
12K employed
$61,200
-13.1% vs national
Elementary School Teacher
17K employed
$60,580
-11.1% vs national
Middle School Teacher
6K employed
$60,450
-11.8% vs national
Librarian
2K employed
$58,440
-13.4% vs national
Kindergarten Teacher
1K employed
$58,420
-8.9% vs national
School Counselor
4K employed
$56,540
-12.9% vs national
Tutor
3K employed
$35,670
-20.0% vs national