Iowa City Employment

Employment and Industries in the Iowa City, Iowa Area

Iowa City's economy is based on commerce, the University of Iowa and numerous national and international companies. Arts and entertainment are also significant economic elements. Iowa City is home to the corporate headquarters of Moore North America, ACT, Procter & Gamble and Oral B Laboratories/Gillette. The city's largest employer is the University of Iowa. The university's academic and research activities along with its healthcare services have a substantial impact on the region.

Iowa City's top employment sectors are education, healthcare, accommodation and food services, finance and insurance; and professional scientific and technical services. The city also includes numerous computer specialists. About 42% of the labor force is found in management, professional and related occupations.

Accolades for Iowa City: Forbes Magazine named Iowa City as the second best small metropolitan area for doing business in the nation. Iowa City was also ranked #8 in Forbes's list of up and coming tech cities. Ranked the 5th best metro area for expanding a business out of 329 by Expansion Management Magazine.

Some of the occupations more prevalent in Iowa City than most other cities include medical scientists, pre press technicians and workers, English language and literature teachers, post secondary; electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment; team assemblers, child care workers and chemists.

Shown below is a list of the top employers in Iowa City:

  • University of Iowa
  • University of Iowa Hospitals
  • Iowa City Community Schools
  • Veteran's Administration Hospital
  • Mercy Hospital
  • Hy-Vee
  • Rockwell International
  • ACT
  • Lear
  • City of Iowa City
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Oral B Laboratories
  • Systems Unlimited
  • MCI Mass Markets

Pertinent data regarding Iowa City Iowa: About 55% of the adults have earned a bachelor's degree or better. The cost of living index in 2008 was 84.3 and the nation's average is 100. In 2009 the average salary in Iowa City, Iowa was $32,000.

Businesses located in Iowa City work with organizations such as:

Those interested in staying current with Iowa City business activities may want to visit press-citizen.com

Jobs in Iowa City

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations91690$51,760$24.88100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations10970$40,140$19.313.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations9640$24,930$11.998.7
4Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations8470$80,070$38.55.85
5Educational Instruction and Library Occupations8090$80,990$38.946
6Sales and Related Occupations7900$35,620$17.129.5
7Transportation and Material Moving Occupations7350$40,360$19.416.7
8Management Occupations5050$96,410$46.356.35
9Production Occupations4400$38,960$18.735.6
10Healthcare Support Occupations4180$33,610$16.162.85
11Business and Financial Operations Occupations4010$66,000$31.735.35
12Registered Nurses3600$68,920$33.141.95
13Construction and Extraction Occupations3220$46,930$22.564.6
14Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3020$33,610$16.163.6
15Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations2980$49,690$23.893.75
16Personal Care and Service Occupations2880$27,380$13.164.65
17Retail Salespersons2720$29,430$14.152.7
18Fast Food and Counter Workers2710$24,620$11.842.45
19Waiters and Waitresses2680$21,010$10.11.65
20Cashiers2570$25,060$12.052.2
21Computer and Mathematical Occupations2380$73,280$35.233
22Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations2330$62,280$29.940.8
23Office Clerks, General2140$39,270$18.881.9
24Customer Service Representatives1830$33,550$16.131.75
25Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1690$34,070$16.381.5
26Nursing Assistants1450$33,070$15.90.95
27Community and Social Service Occupations1350$52,190$25.091.75
28Home Health and Personal Care Aides1340$27,770$13.350
29General and Operations Managers1300$97,170$46.721.5
30Childcare Workers1130$22,490$10.810.7
31Stockers and Order Fillers1090$31,040$14.921.25
32Architecture and Engineering Occupations1020$74,640$35.891.7
33Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1020$63,600$30.581.8
34Cooks, Restaurant1010$26,400$12.690.9
35Protective Service Occupations1000$47,890$23.032.2
36Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand940$28,160$13.541.8
37Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other930$74,590$35.860.7
38Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers880$80,760$38.830.65
39Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists850$62,570$30.080.1
40Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive810$41,590$201.4
41First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers800$41,280$19.850.95
42Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants790$50,920$24.480.35
43First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers770$36,550$17.570.6
44Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks730$40,450$19.451.05
45Billing and Posting Clerks660$46,410$22.310.3
46Medical and Health Services Managers630$99,440$47.810.3
47Maintenance and Repair Workers, General620$45,360$21.810.9
48First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers610$56,160$270.95
49Bartenders570$21,350$10.270.4
50Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners530$24,450$11.750.9
51Construction Laborers490$36,400$17.50.9
52Light Truck Drivers470$29,900$14.370.6
53Medical Assistants470$42,010$20.20.45
54Pharmacy Technicians470$38,940$18.720.3
55Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products460$72,120$34.670.85
56Accountants and Auditors450$68,350$32.860.9
57Receptionists and Information Clerks450$27,710$13.320.7
58Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers440$33,740$16.220.75
59Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants430$42,700$20.530.4
60Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders430$31,280$15.040.2
61Pharmacists420$117,560$56.520.2
62Recreation Workers410$26,390$12.690.3
63Carpenters400$42,400$20.380.6
64Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria400$32,170$15.470.3
65Substitute Teachers, Short-Term400$32,530$15.640.4
66Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics390$47,370$22.780.5
67Human Resources Specialists390$61,510$29.570.4
68Electricians380$56,070$26.960.45
69Insurance Sales Agents380$57,820$27.80.3
70Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity380$41,770$20.080.3
71Legal Occupations360$79,360$38.160.8
72Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists360$46,170$22.20.45
73Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric360$149,470$71.860.3
74Biological Technicians350$43,910$21.110.1
75Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks340$23,500$11.30.15
76Financial Managers330$105,040$50.50.4
77First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers330$58,790$28.270.4
78Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers320$43,050$20.70.1
79First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers320$62,860$30.220.4
80Industrial Machinery Mechanics320$52,790$25.380.2
81Tellers310$28,830$13.860.25
82Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors300$56,080$26.960.2
83Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop280$20,260$9.740.3
84Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers280$62,120$29.870.4
85Social and Human Service Assistants270$42,150$20.260.3
86Computer User Support Specialists260$48,260$23.20.4
87Network and Computer Systems Administrators260$77,630$37.320.2
88Computer Network Support Specialists250$56,460$27.150.1
89Dental Assistants250$42,230$20.30.2
90Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses250$46,350$22.280.5
91Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters250$58,110$27.940.3
92Driver/Sales Workers240$28,670$13.780.3
93Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers240$52,430$25.210.2
94Nurse Practitioners240$112,360$54.020.1
95Security Guards240$33,760$16.230.7
96Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers230$24,460$11.760.3
97First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers230$66,020$31.740.3
98Management Analysts230$74,790$35.960.55
99Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators230$37,640$18.10.8
100Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic230$30,670$14.750.1
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Iowa City Colleges
Iowa City colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Iowa City Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,76091,690
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,14010,970
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,9309,640
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$80,0708,470
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$80,9908,090
Sales and Related Occupations$35,6207,900
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$40,3607,350
Management Occupations$96,4105,050
Production Occupations$38,9604,400
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,6104,180
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$66,0004,010
Registered Nurses$68,9203,600
Construction and Extraction Occupations$46,9303,220
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$33,6103,020
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$49,6902,980
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,3802,880
Retail Salespersons$29,4302,720
Fast Food and Counter Workers$24,6202,710
Waiters and Waitresses$21,0102,680
Cashiers$25,0602,570
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$73,2802,380
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$62,2802,330
Office Clerks, General$39,2702,140
Customer Service Representatives$33,5501,830
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$34,0701,690
Nursing Assistants$33,0701,450
Community and Social Service Occupations$52,1901,350
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,7701,340
General and Operations Managers$97,1701,300
Childcare Workers$22,4901,130
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,0401,090
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$74,6401,020
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$63,6001,020
Cooks, Restaurant$26,4001,010
Protective Service Occupations$47,8901,000
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$28,160940
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$74,590930
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$80,760880
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$62,570850
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$41,590810
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,280800
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$50,920790
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,550770
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$40,450730
Billing and Posting Clerks$46,410660
Medical and Health Services Managers$99,440630
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$45,360620
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$56,160610
Bartenders$21,350570
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$24,450530

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Iowa City, Iowa Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,76091,690
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,14010,970
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$80,0708,470
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$80,9908,090
Sales and Related Occupations$35,6207,900
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$40,3607,350
Management Occupations$96,4105,050
Production Occupations$38,9604,400
Healthcare Support Occupations$33,6104,180
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$66,0004,010
Registered Nurses$68,9203,600
Construction and Extraction Occupations$46,9303,220
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$33,6103,020
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$49,6902,980
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,3802,880
Retail Salespersons$29,4302,720
Cashiers$25,0602,570
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$73,2802,380
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$62,2802,330
Office Clerks, General$39,2702,140
Customer Service Representatives$33,5501,830
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$34,0701,690
Nursing Assistants$33,0701,450
Community and Social Service Occupations$52,1901,350
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,7701,340
General and Operations Managers$97,1701,300
Stockers and Order Fillers$31,0401,090
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$74,6401,020
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$63,6001,020
Cooks, Restaurant$26,4001,010
Protective Service Occupations$47,8901,000
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$28,160940
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$74,590930
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$80,760880
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$62,570850
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$41,590810
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,280800
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$50,920790
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,550770
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$40,450730
Billing and Posting Clerks$46,410660
Medical and Health Services Managers$99,440630
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$45,360620
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$56,160610
Construction Laborers$36,400490
Light Truck Drivers$29,900470
Medical Assistants$42,010470
Pharmacy Technicians$38,940470
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,120460
Accountants and Auditors$68,350450

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