Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary in Iowa
Medical secretaries and administrative assistants in Iowa earned a median of $40,980 a year ($19.70 an hour) and a mean of $42,790 in May 2025. The median is 10.8% below the U.S. median of $45,930, ranking 42nd of 54 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $40,980
- Median hourly
- $19.70
- Mean annual
- $42,790
- Jobs on record
- 10,560
Grey needle: U.S. median, $45,930 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Iowa compare on pay for medical secretaries and administrative assistants?
Iowa ranks 42nd of 54 states and territories. Washington is highest at $58,100, $17,120 more than the Iowa median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 40 | $41,730 | -9% | 96,000 |
| Michigan | 41 | $41,100 | -11% | 27,960 |
| Iowa | 42 | $40,980 | -11% | 10,560 |
| South Carolina | 43 | $40,170 | -13% | 15,630 |
| Tennessee | 44 | $39,940 | -13% | 41,810 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 54 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Iowa pay go further after prices?
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the U.S. average, so the $40,980 median buys about what $46,694 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $45,930 U.S. median. On this measure Iowa ranks 23rd of 51, up from 42nd before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Iowa pay medical secretaries and administrative assistants the most?
Iowa City, IA is highest at $50,130, 22.3% above the Iowa median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $50,130 | 1,290 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $42,160 | 2,350 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $41,890 | 400 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $40,660 | 620 |
| Ames, IA | $40,210 | 420 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $39,460 | 640 |
| Dubuque, IA | $39,340 | 410 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $39,300 | 840 |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $39,290 | 470 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $39,270 | 1,150 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $38,830 | 920 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $38,290 | 1,190 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Iowa is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many medical secretaries and administrative assistants work in Iowa?
BLS counts 10,560 jobs in Iowa, 1.1% of the 961,610 in the U.S. That is the 26th largest count among the 53 states and territories with a published figure. That is 6.8 of every 1,000 jobs in Iowa, a location quotient of 1.10: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.10 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Iowa
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.