Iowa Median
$66,710
per year
Hourly Rate
$32.07
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-12% vs US median
US median $75,940
State Rank
#40 of 51
7,930 employed here
How much does a Human Resources Specialist make in Iowa?
Human Resources Specialists in Iowa take home a median of $66,710 annually — roughly $32.07 an hour — which runs 12% below the national median of $75,940.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $45,400 while the top 10% make $110,640 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $53,890 and $85,770 a year.
Human Resources Specialist salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,400 | $21.83 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $53,890 | $25.91 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $66,710 | $32.07 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $85,770 | $41.24 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,640 | $53.19 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories for Human Resources Specialist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Human Resources Specialist salary in other states
District of Columbia $110,970Massachusetts $85,630Washington $84,550New York $84,380Maryland $83,910California $83,500Connecticut $82,890Virginia $82,090Colorado $80,840New Jersey $80,690Minnesota $78,760Oregon $78,060Vermont $77,800Delaware $77,700Rhode Island $77,560Alaska $76,990Illinois $76,820North Dakota $75,630Hawaii $73,750North Carolina $73,070Utah $71,750Maine $71,630Nevada $71,610Arizona $71,390Kansas $70,870New Hampshire $70,840Georgia $70,570Wisconsin $70,540Pennsylvania $70,450Ohio $70,180Michigan $69,520Kentucky $69,010Texas $68,920New Mexico $68,050South Dakota $67,590Tennessee $67,370Missouri $66,990Wyoming $66,970West Virginia $66,860Florida $66,410Indiana $65,600South Carolina $65,370Idaho $64,990Alabama $64,940Montana $63,790Nebraska $61,930Oklahoma $61,630Louisiana $61,300Mississippi $60,300Arkansas $55,010
Working as a Human Resources Specialist in Iowa
Nationally, about 912,000 people work as Human Resources Specialists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Iowa pay ($66,710) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Human Resources Specialist make in Iowa?
The median Human Resources Specialist salary in Iowa is $66,710 per year, or about $32.07 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $45,400 at the entry level to $110,640 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Human Resources Specialists about 12% less than the national median of $75,940. Iowa ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Human Resources Specialists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $66,710 a year. About 7,930 Human Resources Specialists are employed in Iowa. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Human Resources Specialist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.