Iowa · SOC 29-2043

Paramedics in Iowa

State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Iowa; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$60,590

per year in this state

same as

National Median

$60,600

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$29.13/hr

median hourly

Employment

1,170

jobs in IA

Salary Range in Iowa

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$47,750
25th$52,200
Median$60,590
75th$65,470
90th$78,140

What This Means for Paramedics in Iowa

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Iowa ranks #23 of 52 states and territories for Paramedics pay, the middle tier (44th percentile) nationally. Paramedics working in Iowa earn a median salary of $60,590, which is same as the national median of $60,600. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $47,750 at the 10th percentile to $78,140 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Paramedics labor market inside Iowa using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $60,590 ($29.13/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 1,170 workers in this SOC code (29-2043). Relative to the national median of $60,600, the state estimate is same as. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within Iowa, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $47,750, the 25th earns $52,200, the 75th reaches $65,470, and the 90th hits $78,140. The upper boundary is roughly 1.6× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Iowa where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in Iowa

Similar Occupations in Iowa

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Paramedics pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Iowa. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Similar median pay

Nearest state medians ($60,590 here).

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (1,170 jobs here; floor 1,000).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 29-2043. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Paramedics make in Iowa?
The median annual salary for Paramedics in Iowa is $60,590 (same as national avg). Pay ranges from $47,750 (10th percentile) to $78,140 (90th percentile).
How many Paramedics work in Iowa?
There are approximately 1,170 Paramedics employed in Iowa, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Paramedics in Iowa?
The median hourly wage for Paramedics in Iowa is $29.13/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in Iowa.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Iowa figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.