Iowa City Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Iowa City, IA: $24.07/hr median hourly wage, $50,060 median annual salary, cost of living index 95, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Iowa taxes.
Iowa City Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Iowa City, IA is $24.07/hr,and the median annual wage is $50,060. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.92/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $34.18/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Iowa City, IA metropolitan statistical area (93,760 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Iowa City shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$50,060
$24.07/hr
Cost of Living
95
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
2.5%
rate
Iowa City, IA Overview
Population
74,828
Median Salary
$50,060
Average Salary
$65,420
Avg Commute
18 min
Median Home Price
$260,000
Median Rent
$1,050/mo
Job Growth
+1.8%
Sales Tax
7%
Iowa City is located in Iowa with a population of 74,828. The median annual wage across all occupations is $50,060 ($24.07/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Iowa City, IA metro), which is $920 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 18 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.8%.
Iowa City Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Iowa City, IA built around the $50,060 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Iowa City, IA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $31,037 | $14.92/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $50,060 | $24.07/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $71,085 | $34.18/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $89,107 | $42.84/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Iowa City Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Iowa City, IA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$41,113
$3,426.06/month · $1,581.26/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.9%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,581.26 take-home per paycheck after estimated Iowa and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$50,060
Federal Tax
-$3,827
State Tax
-$1,290
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,830
Net Pay
$41,113
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,171.67 | $50,060.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$318.93 | -$3,827.20 |
| Iowa State Tax (2.58% eff.) | -$107.54 | -$1,290.48 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$258.64 | -$3,103.72 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$60.49 | -$725.87 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,426.06 | $41,112.73 |
Salary Comparison: Iowa City vs Other Cities
See how Iowa City's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $50,060 | 95 | $52,695 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Winchester, NV | $50,034 | 98.7 | $50,693 |
| Bensalem, PA | $50,005 | 97.3 | $51,393 |
| Aberdeen, SD | $50,000 | 88 | $56,818 |
| Charlotte, NC | $49,990 | 98 | $51,010 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Iowa City
Iowa City's cost of living index is 95 (national average = 100). Living in Iowa City is 5% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$260,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,050
Annual Rent Cost
$12,600
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $41,113 annual take-home pay in Iowa City has the purchasing power of approximately $43,277 in an average-cost US area. Your $50,060 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Iowa City
Iowa City's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $50,060.
Salary Tips for Iowa City Workers
- Research top industries. Iowa City's top industries include Education, Healthcare, Technology. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $50,060 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Iowa City salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Iowa City, IA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Iowa City indexed at 95.
- Median salary: $50,060 annual, $24.07 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Iowa City, IA MSA (93,760 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $65,420 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Iowa City was $57,000.
- Tax burden reflects Iowa 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 3.8%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Iowa City: 2.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Education, Healthcare, Technology, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Iowa.
- Housing context: median home price $260,000, median rent $1,050/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Iowa City, IA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Iowa City unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Iowa City QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Iowa, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Iowa City's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Iowa labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Iowa City, IA?
The median hourly wage in Iowa City, IA is $24.07 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Iowa City, IA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $50,060. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.92/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $34.18/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Iowa City, IA?
The median salary in Iowa City, IA is $50,060 per year, or $24.07 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Iowa City, IA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $65,420. This is $920 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Iowa City, IA?
Iowa City's cost of living index is 95 (national average = 100), meaning it is 5% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $260,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,050.
What are the best industries in Iowa City?
The top industries in Iowa City, IA include Education, Healthcare, Technology. The city has a job growth rate of 1.8% and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $50,060.
How does Iowa City's salary compare to other cities?
Iowa City's median salary of $50,060 is 1.8% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 95), the real purchasing power is approximately $52,695.
What is the minimum wage in Iowa City, IA?
The minimum wage in Iowa City, IA is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.