PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant Certified
CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA
$18.96–$26.78/ hour
New this week
Medical Assistant jobs in Dubuque, IA
Medical Assistants in the Dubuque area earn a median of $20.23 per hour, about $42,090 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.22 and $21.59. That ranks 156th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 40th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Dubuque. The free report below lists employers near Dubuque and what they pay.
- $20.23median pay per hour, Dubuque
- $18–$22typical range per hour
- 130medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 87cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Dubuque, IA
The metro median is 4% below the Iowa statewide median of $21.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 130 medical assistants employed in the Dubuque metro area, 2.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.41).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.58 | $36,570 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.22 | $37,900 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Median | $20.23 | $42,090 | 5% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $21.59 | $44,910 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $23.37 | $48,610 | 10% above U.S. median |
How Dubuque ranks
- 156th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 40th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th of 8 Iowa metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Dubuque
- Overall prices in Dubuque run 13% below the U.S. average (index 87.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 36% below the U.S. average (index 64.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $20.23 median hour buys what $23.17 buys at the national price level, 9% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Dubuque Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Dubuque, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Dubuque paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$728
- Per year: $36,414
- Per month: $3,034
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Dubuque metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Dubuque
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel medical assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Open Medical Assistant roles in Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Dubuque as they open.
PermanentPosted 22 days ago
Medical Assistant
Avera Health · Spencer, IA
$20.00–$28.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
35+ more Medical Assistant roles for you in Iowa
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Hospitals in Dubuque
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Dubuque, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finley Hospital Dubuque, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Dubuque County
HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Dubuque County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 16 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Medical Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 62 mi | $21.78/hr | 137,904 |
| Davenport, IA | 65 mi | $20.63/hr | 100,938 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $19.35/hr | 76,710 |
| Madison, WI | 76 mi | $23.15/hr | 285,300 |
| Waterloo, IA | 84 mi | $21.56/hr | 67,477 |
| Rockford, IL | 86 mi | $21.34/hr | 147,486 |
Medical Assistant jobs in Iowa · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Dubuque
Dubuque city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Dubuque, IA?
Medical Assistants in the Dubuque metro area have a median pay of $20.23 per hour, about $42,090 a year. The middle half earn between $18.22 and $21.59 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Dubuque a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Dubuque ranks 40th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 156th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Dubuque?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Dubuque, led by Finley Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Dubuque as a medical assistant?
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Dubuque in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Dubuque County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Dubuque?
The federal per diem benchmark in Dubuque is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Dubuque?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Dubuque and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Dubuque.
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What do employers near Dubuque pay medical assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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35+ Medical Assistant roles in Iowa, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Medical Assistant pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 11 postings$33.96/ hr$27–$41
- CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 21 postings$31.77/ hr$26–$42
- Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 11 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$37
- Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 4 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$34
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
Low$19Median$26.02High$33
1193 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in the US, 1009 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 2 Medical Assistant roles
- Medical Assistant CertifiedPermanent$18.96–$26.78/ hour
- Medical AssistantPermanent$20.00–$28.00/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.