2026 pay · Iowa state departments, boards and commissions and the Regents universities (University of Iowa, Iowa State, UNI)
How much do Iowa public employees make?
$63,648typical pay in 2026 for Iowa state government employees
$39,254 – $89,467what most people earned
Official pay records for 64,451 people at 53 employers.
✓ Official data from Iowa Department of Administrative Services · latest release · data.iowa.gov ↗
Pay by employer
Typical pay counts everyone paid during 2026. Poll workers and other short, seasonal roles (typical pay under $5,000) are listed last. Select an employer for jobs, names and more.
- University of Iowa30,285 people$61,639
- Iowa State University7,269 people$67,298
- Department of Health and Human Services4,917 people$63,505
- Department of Human Services4,635 people · 2022 pay, the latest published$57,763
- Department of Corrections4,256 people$64,270
- Department of Transportation3,112 people$64,618
- University of Northern Iowa2,123 people$54,783
- Iowa Judicial Branch2,038 people$56,724
- Department of Natural Resources1,383 people$55,161
- Iowa Workforce Development1,098 people$63,242
- Department of Public Safety1,038 people$94,507
- Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing985 people$74,992
- Iowa Veterans Home901 people$43,122
- Department of Education725 people$78,210
- Department of Public Health658 people · 2023 pay, the latest published$65,184
- Department of Inspections and Appeals631 people · 2023 pay, the latest published$76,340
- Department of Revenue581 people$68,787
- Department of Management550 people$106,267
- Iowa Legislature549 people$49,847
- Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship483 people$56,533
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services473 people · 2025 pay, the latest published$66,350
- Department of Administrative Services353 people$69,986
- Department of Insurance and Financial Services344 people$87,361
- Attorney General276 people$96,997
- Department of Public Defense264 people$60,832
- Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)133 people$67,643
- Office of the Chief Information Officer127 people · 2022 pay, the latest published$97,602
- Auditor of State121 people$70,548
- Iowa Lottery Authority112 people · 2025 pay, the latest published$68,350
- Iowa Economic Development Authority110 people$88,778
- Department for the Blind108 people$52,422
- Board of Regents107 people · 2023 pay, the latest published$66,279
- Iowa Finance Authority106 people$84,855
- Department of Commerce94 people · 2024 pay, the latest published$64,769
- Department of Cultural Affairs87 people · 2023 pay, the latest published$56,842
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department86 people$92,266
- College Student Aid Commission81 people · 2023 pay, the latest published$12,357
- Iowa Communications Network69 people$97,061
- Department on Aging55 people · 2023 pay, the latest published$78,025
- Department of Human Rights55 people · 2023 pay, the latest published$76,196
- Civil Rights Commission49 people · 2023 pay, the latest published$24,567
- Secretary of State45 people$66,755
- Treasurer of State36 people$65,602
- Iowa Law Enforcement Academy33 people$83,114
- Office of the Governor29 people$86,715
- Department of Veterans Affairs17 people$52,712
- Board of Educational Examiners16 people · 2023 pay, the latest published$85,009
- Board of Parole12 people$78,488
- Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board10 people$69,997
- Iowa Public Information Board6 people$33,375
- Public Employment Relations Board5 people · 2024 pay, the latest published$40,431
- Office of Drug Control Policy4 people · 2023 pay, the latest published$101,267
- Iowa School for the Deaf119 people · 2025 pay, the latest published$2,174
No employers match.
Pay by type of employer
Typical pay for everyone paid, grouped by the kind of employer. Select a type to see each employer.
- Colleges and universities39,796 people · 4 employers$62,491
- State government25,359 people · 35 employers$64,989
State agencies by what they do
What stands out in Iowa
Employers whose pay looks different from others like them, with the comparison spelled out.
Most common jobs
Typical pay for each job in Iowa, 2026. Select a job to see where people do it and how pay varies.
- Staff Nurse3,246 people$79,424
- Correctional Officer1,600 people · 2 employers$59,046
- Temporary Worker1,233 people · 25 employers$6,821
- Patient Care Technician1,060 people$14,323
- Social Worker1,000 people · 6 employers$61,858
- Administrative Support Assistant925 people · 31 employers$46,020
- Associate Professor847 people · 3 employers$116,095
- Gme Resident801 people$72,100
- Resident Treatment Worker707 people · 3 employers$52,088
- Income Maintenance Worker684 people$65,727
- Highway Technician Associate631 people$57,407
- Judicial Operations Clerk631 people · 2 employers$45,262
- Clinical Assistant Professor608 people · 3 employers$209,171
- Assistant Professor587 people · 3 employers$118,071
- Temp Professional Employee572 people$5,059
- Administrative Assistant534 people · 25 employers$58,716
- Executive Officer522 people · 29 employers$99,149
- Public Service Manager517 people · 28 employers$117,836
- Information Technology Specialist472 people · 19 employers$104,050
- Probation/Parole Officer467 people$82,373
- Admin Services Coordinator461 people$49,519
- Medical Assistant434 people · 2 employers$42,192
- Revenue Cycle Representative422 people · 2 employers$48,024
- Clinical Associate Professor404 people · 3 employers$237,668
No jobs match.
Pay by job group
Typical pay for related jobs grouped together, such as police, fire and security. Select a group to see each job.
- Doctors, nurses and health professionals8,038 people · 57 jobs$78,900
- Office and administrative support6,136 people · 44 jobs$50,601
- Teachers and librarians5,329 people · 43 jobs$96,118
- Social work and counseling3,794 people · 31 jobs$65,346
- Business and finance jobs3,525 people · 69 jobs$71,837
- Managers3,051 people · 61 jobs$104,136
- Healthcare support3,018 people · 13 jobs$27,480
- Police, fire and security3,009 people · 24 jobs$60,815
- Science jobs2,915 people · 34 jobs$60,174
- Computer and IT jobs2,021 people · 31 jobs$86,317
- Construction and trades1,105 people · 8 jobs$61,602
- Engineers and architects774 people · 20 jobs$88,067
- Food service742 people · 8 jobs$27,490
- Legal jobs675 people · 11 jobs$125,619
- Arts, media and sports639 people · 12 jobs$66,010
- Maintenance and repair408 people · 10 jobs$63,443
- Recreation and personal care363 people · 6 jobs$6,903
- Cleaning and grounds178 people · 6 jobs$46,879
- Plant operators and production156 people · 5 jobs$57,538
Highest paid in Iowa state government, 2026
- 1Ferentz, Kirk JHead Coach · University of Iowa$7,929,648
- 2Haws, Bradley EAssociate Vice President · University of Iowa$4,498,248
- 3Otzelberger, Thomas JohnHead Men's Basketball Coach · Iowa State University$4,483,333
- 4Mccollum, BenHead Coach · University of Iowa$3,812,561
- 5Parker, Phillip JAssistant Coach · University of Iowa$2,613,012
- 6Jamieson, Denise JVp for Medical Affairs and Dean · University of Iowa$1,785,554
- 7Lester, Timothy FrederickAssistant Coach · University of Iowa$1,745,833
- 8Rogers, JamesHead Coach · Iowa State University$1,714,395
- 9Wallace, Seth BranninAssistant Coach · University of Iowa$1,433,654
- 10Bollier, Matthew JohnClinical Professor · University of Iowa$1,287,612
Where this data comes from
Iowa Department of Administrative Services (Iowa Data Hub)
Years we cover: 2016–2026 · Matches the agency's latest release
Official website: data.iowa.gov ↗
Common questions
Are public employee salaries public in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa Department of Administrative Services (Iowa Data Hub) publishes public employee pay records. We collect them, add context, and link to the agency's official website.
How often is this updated?
Iowa Department of Administrative Services: the next update is expected in late 2027.
Why can't I find someone?
We only cover the employers listed on this page. Some agencies withhold names for safety reasons (for example certain public-safety staff); those people count in the totals but are never named. Names are listed on each employer's page.