PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant Certified
CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA
$18.96–$26.78/ hour
New this week
Medical Assistant jobs in Iowa City, IA
Pay for medical assistants in the Iowa City area centers on $19.35 per hour, or about $40,240 a year. The lower quarter earns under $19.21 and the upper quarter over $23.77. That ranks 187th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 140th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Iowa City. The free report below lists employers near Iowa City and what they pay.
- $19.35median pay per hour, Iowa City
- $19–$24typical range per hour
- 480medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 92cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Iowa City, IA
The metro median is 8% below the Iowa statewide median of $21.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 480 medical assistants employed in the Iowa City metro area, 5.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.01).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.16 | $37,770 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $19.21 | $39,960 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Median | $19.35 | $40,240 | 9% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $23.77 | $49,440 | 12% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $27.60 | $57,410 | 30% above U.S. median |
How Iowa City ranks
- 187th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 140th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th 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 Iowa City
- Overall prices in Iowa City run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 16% below the U.S. average (index 84.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $19.35 median hour buys what $21.15 buys at the national price level, in line with 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 Iowa City Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Iowa City, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Iowa City paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$697
- Per year: $34,830
- Per month: $2,902
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Iowa City metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Iowa City
| 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 Iowa City 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 Iowa City
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Iowa City, 2 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City Va Medical Center Iowa City, IA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down Iowa City, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Iowa Hospital & Clinics Iowa City, IA | Acute care | Government and federal | 2 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 Johnson County
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Johnson County (1 population-group). The highest-scoring one rates 17 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 | 23 mi | $21.78/hr | 137,904 |
| Davenport, IA | 48 mi | $20.63/hr | 100,938 |
| Waterloo, IA | 72 mi | $21.56/hr | 67,477 |
| Dubuque, IA | 72 mi | $20.23/hr | 58,987 |
| Ankeny, IA | 107 mi | $21.97/hr | 76,727 |
| Des Moines, IA | 108 mi | $21.97/hr | 213,096 |
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 Iowa City
Iowa City city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Iowa City, IA?
Medical Assistants in the Iowa City metro area have a median pay of $19.35 per hour, about $40,240 a year. The middle half earn between $19.21 and $23.77 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Iowa City a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Iowa City ranks 140th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 187th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Iowa City?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Iowa City, led by Iowa City Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Iowa City 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 Iowa City in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Johnson 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 Iowa City?
The federal per diem benchmark in Iowa City 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 Iowa City?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Iowa City and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Iowa City.
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What do employers near Iowa City 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
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
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.