How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Dubuque, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Dubuque, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Dubuque metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Dubuque, Iowa earns $29.09 per hour, or $60,500 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,042 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $48,680, and the top 10% of earners make over $75,250.
That pay is right at the Iowa figure of $60,540 and 6% below the national figure of $64,650. Dubuque ranks 3rd of 6 metro areas in Iowa for Surgical Tech pay. About 40 Surgical Techs work in the Dubuque area.
Surgical Tech pay in Dubuque at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.09 an hour, or $60,500 a year.
- That is right at the Iowa figure, ranking 3rd of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $48,680; the top 10% make over $75,250.
- Typical pay rose +60% from 2015 to 2025, against +56% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Dubuque?
Pay in Dubuque runs from entry-level positions at around $23.40 an hour to more than $36.18 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Dubuque
| Career stage | Dubuque | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $48,680$23.40 an hour | $47,280$22.73 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $59,160$28.44 an hour | $50,680$24.37 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $60,500$29.09 an hour | $60,540$29.11 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $61,780$29.70 an hour | $62,880$30.23 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $75,250$36.18 an hour | $75,100$36.11 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Dubuque area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Dubuque
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Dubuque area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Dubuque was $37,740 a year. By 2025 it had reached $60,500, a change of +60%, compared with +56% for Iowa over the same years.
How Dubuque compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays Surgical Techs the most in Iowa at $62,250 a year, $1,750 more than Dubuque. The lowest-paying area in the state is Iowa City at $58,930.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Dubuque | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $62,250 | $29.93 | +3% | 230 |
| 2 | Davenport | $60,520 | $29.10 | 0% | 110 |
| 3 | Dubuque | $60,500 | $29.09 | this city | 40 |
| 4 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $59,910 | $28.80 | -1% | 40 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $59,670 | $28.69 | -1% | 90 |
| 6 | Iowa City | $58,930 | $28.33 | -3% | 120 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $60,540
Is Dubuque a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Dubuque earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $60,500 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Dubuque area, about 0.7 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.8. That makes Surgical Techs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Dubuque, IA?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Dubuque earns $60,500 a year, or $29.09 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $48,680 and the top 10% earn over $75,250.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Dubuque?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Dubuque is $29.09. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.40, and the top 10% earn over $36.18 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Dubuque?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Dubuque typically offer around $23.40 an hour, or $48,680 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Dubuque higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Dubuque pay is right at the Iowa figure of $60,540 a year, ranking 3rd of 6 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $62,250.