What the numbers say
Iowa's median wage for Accountants and Auditors was $74,290 in 2024, about 12% below the national median of $84,407. That gap is real, but it tells only part of the story.
Iowa's cost of living sits roughly 10% below the national average. Once you account for what the money actually buys, the effective gap shrinks to a couple of percentage points. A paycheck that looks smaller on paper goes further here than the same number would in most other states.
The spread between entry-level and experienced earners is substantial. The bottom 10% earned around $48,300 in 2024, while the top 10% brought in $121,940. Top earners make roughly 2.5 times what those starting out do. That kind of range shows up in occupations where seniority, specialization, and the type of employer matter a lot. A staff accountant at a regional firm and a senior auditor at a large financial institution both fall under this occupation code, which explains the distance between the low and high ends.
BLS projects employment in this occupation to grow 4.6% between 2024 and 2034, in line with the average rate across all occupations. Iowa's 13,970 jobs in this category make it a mid-size market for the profession nationally.
Salary distribution
Where Iowa accountants and auditors fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $60,600 and $93,450, with a median of $74,290.
Accountants and Auditors in Iowa: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 31 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $75,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 10 | $62,750 |
| Level II — qualified | 14 | $75,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $108,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Accountants and Auditors in Iowa. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG332907-1 | 17 | $75,000 |
| Deloitte & Touche LLP | Audit & Assurance Senior Manager | 5 | $66,123 |
| Deloitte Tax LLP | Tax Consultant | 2 | $58,852 |
| MAHARISHI International UNIVERSITY | Student Accounts Manager | 2 | $60,638 |
| MAHARISHI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY | Financial Planning and Analysis Analyst | 1 | $116,941,760 |
| 725 Ida Street LLC | Management Accountant | 1 | $63,000 |
| Rideshare Mechanic, LLC. | Accountant | 1 | $69,992 |
| Global Center Group Inc | Accountant | 1 | $50,000 |
| Tax & Accounting Services, Inc. | Accountant | 1 | $80,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Financial Planning and Analysis Analyst at MAHARISHI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY$116,941,760FAIRFIELDDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-473653
- Audit & Assurance Senior Manager at Deloitte & Touche LLP$97,698West Des MoinesDecided Nov 5, 2025I-200-25269-337390
- Management Accountant at 725 Ida Street LLC$63,000Cedar FallsWage Level IIDecided Sep 24, 2025I-200-25260-315417
- Accountant at Rideshare Mechanic, LLC.$69,992FairfieldWage Level IIDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25162-082030
- Audit & Assurance Assistant at Deloitte & Touche LLP$55,203Des MoinesWage Level IDecided May 29, 2025I-200-25141-000764
- Audit & Assurance Assistant at Deloitte & Touche LLP$63,000Des MoinesWage Level IDecided May 29, 2025I-200-25141-000709
- Tax Consultant at Deloitte Tax LLP$55,203Des MoinesWage Level IDecided May 27, 2025I-200-25139-989402
- Tax Consultant at Deloitte Tax LLP$62,500MarshalltownWage Level IDecided May 27, 2025I-200-25139-989390
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Accountants and Auditors pay by experience level in Iowa
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Accountants and Auditors specialties in Iowa
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 20 certified offers. The most common variant is Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG332907-1 at a median of $75,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG332907-1 | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 17 | $75,000 |
| Accountant | Rideshare Mechanic, LLC. | 3 | $69,992 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Accountants and Auditors in Iowa, by industry
Median offered wage across 30 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $75,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 25 | $75,000 |
| Education | MAHARISHI International UNIVERSITY | 3 | $69,996 |
| Retail and wholesale | 725 Ida Street LLC | 1 | $63,000 |
| Finance and insurance | Global Center Group Inc | 1 | $50,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Iowa over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 3.9 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- 02
Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- 03
Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- 04
Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- 05
Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- 06
Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
- 07
Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
- 08
Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Accountants and Auditors in Iowa?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in Iowa is $74,290.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Accountants and Auditors?
- The Iowa median is -12.0% versus the BLS national figure of $84,407.
- What is the salary range for Accountants and Auditors in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $48,300 and the 90th-percentile at $121,940, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Accountants and Auditors a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Accountants and Auditors?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.