Project Management Specialists in Iowa. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median wage for Project Management Specialists in Iowa was $85,000 in 2024, about 16% below the national median of $100,946. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.
Iowa's cost of living runs roughly 10% below the national average. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the in-state median lands closer to $94,500 in national-baseline dollars. The headline gap narrows to about 6%.
The spread between low and high earners is wide. The 10th percentile came in at $57,040; the 90th hit $136,670. Top earners in Iowa made roughly 2.4 times what bottom earners did. That range reflects how much seniority, industry, and project scale drive pay in this occupation. A project coordinator at a regional manufacturer and a senior program manager at a financial services firm both carry the same job title in BLS data, but their wages sit in very different parts of that range.
The mean wage of $99,520 runs well above the median. A smaller group of higher earners pulls the average up, which suggests the upper tail of Iowa's market is more competitive than the headline median implies.
BLS projects employment for Project Management Specialists to grow 5.6% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Iowa's 6,490 employed specialists put it in the mid-size tier among states for this occupation.
Salary distribution
Where Iowa project management specialists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,360 and $130,170, with a median of $96,540.
Project Management Specialists in Iowa: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 6 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $105,524. 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 II — qualified | 1 | $81,507 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $105,524 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $166,400 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Project Management Specialists in Iowa. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turner Construction Company | Engineer | 3 | $91,488 |
| Danfoss Power Solutions (US) Company | Senior Sourcing Project Manager | 1 | $113,080 |
| Populus Group LLC | Supply Chain Project Analyst | 1 | $160,160 |
| Tri City Electric Co of Iowa Corp | Project Controls Manager | 1 | $166,400 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Engineer at Turner Construction Company$91,488Council BluffsWage Level IIIDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26051-653912
- Supply Chain Project Analyst at Populus Group LLC$160,160West Des MoinesWage Level IIIDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25245-281667
- Senior Sourcing Project Manager at Danfoss Power Solutions (US) Company$113,080AmesWage Level IIIDecided Sep 5, 2025I-200-25240-274896
- Project Controls Manager at Tri City Electric Co of Iowa Corp$166,400Cedar RapidsWage Level IVDecided Jan 29, 2025I-203-25022-634276
- Engineer at Turner Construction Company$97,968AltoonaWage Level IIIDecided Nov 7, 2025I-203-25273-346916
- VDC Engineer at Turner Construction Company$81,507West Des MoinesWage Level IIDecided Apr 17, 2025I-200-25100-850076
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.
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Project Management Specialists 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.
Project Management Specialists in Iowa, by industry
Median offered wage across 2 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $113,080.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Danfoss Power Solutions (US) Company | 1 | $113,080 |
| Professional services | Populus Group LLC | 1 | $160,160 |
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 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
Common tasks (O*NET)
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Project Management Specialists in Iowa?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Project Management Specialists in Iowa is $96,540.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Project Management Specialists?
- The Iowa median is -8.0% versus the BLS national figure of $104,968.
- What is the salary range for Project Management Specialists in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $62,000 and the 90th-percentile at $150,290, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Project Management Specialists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Project Management Specialists?
- 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.