How Much Does a Rad Tech Make in Iowa in 2026?

A typical Radiologic Technologist in Iowa earns about $31.70 per hour ($65,930 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $5,494 a month and $1,268 a week, calculated from the annual figure. That pay covers rad techs working in hospitals, clinics, and imaging centers throughout the state.

Iowa's typical pay sits 18% below the national figure of $80,110 a year; the state's $31.70 hourly figure trails the national hourly rate of $38.52 too. That gap places Iowa 45th out of 51 states for Rad Tech pay. About 2,550 Rad Techs work in Iowa, compared with 230,490 nationwide. Lower pay in Iowa tends to track the state's lower cost of living.

Entry-level Rad Tech positions in Iowa typically offer around $26.14 an hour, or about $54,360 a year, per the May 2025 wage data. That's where many new rad techs start, often in smaller facilities or general radiography roles. Pay usually moves toward the state's typical figure of $65,930 within the first few years on the job as techs gain experience and certifications.

Experienced Rad Techs in Iowa often earn upwards of $38.17 an hour, with the top 10% making over $86,520 a year. That leaves a spread of $32,160 between entry-level and top pay statewide. Setting, years of experience, and city tend to separate the two groups, with specialized imaging roles and larger metro hospitals paying toward the higher end.

Iowa's typical Rad Tech pay climbed from $51,980 in 2019 to $65,930 in 2025, a gain of $13,950. That's a rise of about 27% over six years, according to government wage data. The increase has been steady each year, moving from $52,370 in 2020 up through $64,350 in 2024 before reaching this year's figure.

Nationally, Rad Tech pay rose 32% over the same period, a slightly faster climb than Iowa's. Pay for the profession has moved up in both places, though Iowa's increase has trailed the national pace. Someone starting as a Rad Tech in Iowa now enters a field where pay has been rising, though no future gain is guaranteed.

Rad Tech pay runs highest in Dubuque, where the typical figure reaches $74,530 a year ($35.83 an hour), about 13% above the statewide figure. Ames and Des Moines also pay above the state's typical figure, at $66,760 and $67,640 a year. Those higher figures reflect each city's full metro area, not just the city limits.

Pay runs lowest in Sioux City, where the typical figure is $64,260 a year ($30.90 an hour), putting the spread between Iowa's highest- and lowest-paying cities at $10,270. Des Moines employs the most Rad Techs in the state, with about 560 working there, even though its pay sits below Dubuque's. Higher pay in cities like Dubuque often comes with a higher cost of living, which tends to offset some of the difference.

Iowa's Rad Tech pay trails most neighboring states. Minnesota pays $83,400 a year, 26% higher than Iowa, followed by Illinois at $79,930 (21% higher) and Wisconsin at $79,140 (20% higher). Missouri and Nebraska both run about 11% above Iowa, while South Dakota sits close, about 1% lower at $65,240. Rad Tech licensure earned in Iowa can often be endorsed into a neighboring state, making a move across the border a realistic option for techs chasing higher pay.

Rad Techs in Iowa typically earn $65,930 a year ($31.70 an hour), a figure that has climbed 27% since 2019 even as it trails the national pay by 18%. Pay tends to run highest in Dubuque and lowest in Sioux City, with Des Moines employing the most techs statewide. Readers considering the field should check Iowa's licensing and registry requirements, then compare local pay across the state's cities.