SOC 13-1075 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Labor Relations Specialists — Iowa
Iowa · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Labor Relations Specialists in Iowa is $79,140 per year, 17.1% below the national median of $95,420.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Labor Relations Specialists in Iowa is $79,140 per year, 17.1% below the national median of $95,420. Pay ranges from under $61,020 at the tenth percentile to more than $151,890 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $75,800 to $125,420.
Employment stands at 610, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Iowa ranks 36th by median wage. Davenport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $96,760. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 175th of 711 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $61,020 | −36.1% |
| 25th | $75,800 | −20.6% |
| Median (50th) | $79,140 | −17.1% |
| 75th | $125,420 | +31.4% |
| 90th | $151,890 | +59.2% |
| Mean | $100,350 | +5.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $96,760 | 170 | |
| 2 | Dubuque | $89,150 | 40 | |
| 3 | Des Moines | $81,960 | 220 | |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids | $79,980 | 60 | |
| 5 | Sioux City | $78,920 | 40 | |
| 6 | Waterloo | $77,020 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $79,140 goes as far as $90,137 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$79,140as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$90,137US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,140 a year, 17.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $61,020 to $151,890 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 610 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 36th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Davenport, at $96,760.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Labor Relations Specialists in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $79,140, or $38.05 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $95,420, so pay in Iowa is 17.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Iowa earns more than $151,890 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $61,020 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Davenport, at $96,760 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 610 jobs in this occupation in Iowa. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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