How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Iowa City, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Iowa City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa City metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Iowa City, Iowa earns $20.94 per hour, or $43,550 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,629 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,180, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,080.
That pay is 4% below the Iowa figure of $45,480 and 5% below the national figure of $45,690. Iowa City ranks 8th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Medical Assistant pay. About 480 Medical Assistants work in the Iowa City area.
Medical Assistant pay in Iowa City at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.94 an hour, or $43,550 a year.
- That is 4% below the Iowa figure, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,180; the top 10% make over $59,080.
- Typical pay rose +26% from 2015 to 2025, against +51% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Iowa City?
Pay in Iowa City runs from entry-level positions at around $18.84 an hour to more than $28.40 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Iowa City
| Career stage | Iowa City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,180$18.84 an hour | $36,730$17.66 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $41,120$19.77 an hour | $38,980$18.74 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $43,550$20.94 an hour | $45,480$21.87 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $50,890$24.47 an hour | $48,030$23.09 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,080$28.40 an hour | $54,960$26.42 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Iowa City area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Iowa City
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical Assistants in the Iowa City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Medical Assistant pay in Iowa City was $34,700 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,550, a change of +26%, compared with +51% for Iowa over the same years.
How Iowa City compares with other Iowa cities
West Des Moines pays Medical Assistants the most in Iowa at $46,920 a year, $3,370 more than Iowa City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Iowa City at $43,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Iowa City | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $46,920 | $22.56 | +8% | 1,780 |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $46,480 | $22.35 | +7% | 510 |
| 3 | Ames | $45,810 | $22.02 | +5% | 180 |
| 4 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $45,660 | $21.95 | +5% | 390 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $45,650 | $21.95 | +5% | 280 |
| 6 | Dubuque | $44,730 | $21.51 | +3% | 210 |
| 7 | Davenport | $44,700 | $21.49 | +3% | 840 |
| 8 | Iowa City | $43,550 | $20.94 | this city | 480 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $45,480
Is Iowa City a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants in Iowa City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $43,550 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Iowa City area, about 5.1 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.3. Medical Assistant jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Iowa City, IA?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Iowa City earns $43,550 a year, or $20.94 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,180 and the top 10% earn over $59,080.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Iowa City?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Iowa City is $20.94. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.84, and the top 10% earn over $28.40 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Iowa City?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Iowa City typically offer around $18.84 an hour, or $39,180 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Iowa City higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Iowa City pay is 4% below the Iowa figure of $45,480 a year, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state. West Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $46,920.