PermanentPosted 24 days ago
Medical Laboratory Scientist
CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA
$29.36–$43.68/ hour
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Iowa City, IA
Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Iowa City area earn a median of $24.19 per hour, about $50,310 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.53 and $30.80. That ranks 271st of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 240th of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Iowa City. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Iowa City.
- $24.19median pay per hour, Iowa City
- $19–$31typical range per hour
- 360employed in the metro area
- 92cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in Iowa City, IA
The metro median is 8% below the Iowa statewide median of $26.23 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 360 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the Iowa City metro area, 3.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.77).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.53 | $38,540 | 38% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.53 | $38,540 | 38% below U.S. median |
| Median | $24.19 | $50,310 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $30.80 | $64,060 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $39.60 | $82,370 | 33% above U.S. median |
How Iowa City ranks
- 271st of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 240th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 8 Iowa metro areas
BLS does not publish a separate figure for medical laboratory scientist. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2010), 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 $24.19 median hour buys what $26.43 buys at the national price level, 11% below 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 Laboratory Scientist 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$871
- Per year: $43,542
- Per month: $3,628
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 laboratory scientist 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 Laboratory Scientist roles in Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Iowa City as they open.
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20+ more Medical Laboratory Scientist 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 laboratory scientists.
| 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.
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 23 mi | $28.88/hr | 137,904 |
| Davenport, IA | 48 mi | $24.30/hr | 100,938 |
| Waterloo, IA | 72 mi | $21.89/hr | 67,477 |
| Dubuque, IA | 72 mi | $28.09/hr | 58,987 |
| Ankeny, IA | 107 mi | $23.82/hr | 76,727 |
| Des Moines, IA | 108 mi | $23.82/hr | 213,096 |
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Iowa · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. 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 laboratory scientists make in Iowa City, IA?
Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Iowa City metro area have a median pay of $24.19 per hour, about $50,310 a year. The middle half earn between $18.53 and $30.80 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Iowa City a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?
Iowa City ranks 240th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 271st of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical laboratory scientists 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 laboratory scientist?
Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. 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.
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 laboratory scientists 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 laboratory scientists? 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 employers
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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20+ Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in Iowa, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Lab Scientist pay reportIowa City, IA · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Northwest Iowa Hospital CorporationSioux City, IA · 6 wage offers$34.53/ hr$28–$36
- Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Inc.West Burlington, IA · 5 wage offers$34.01/ hr$31–$35
- St. Luke's Methodist HospitalCedar Rapids, IA · 2 wage offers$33.17/ hr$31–$35
- Catholic Health Initiatives – Iowa, CorpDes Moines, IA · 2 wage offers$32.90/ hr$32–$34
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$27Median$30.66High$35
69 employer-reported wage offers for Lab Scientist in federal filings in Iowa, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 Lab Scientist roles
- Medical Laboratory ScientistPermanent$29.36–$43.68/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.