Iowa (IA)
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H1BIndex State Grade
i
B
FY 2026
2023
A+
2024
A+
2025
A+
Total State Visa Volume i
324
Filings in FY 2026
Median State Salary i
$100,838
Standard yearly salary
True Purchasing Power i
$95,796
Adjusted for Cost of Living
USCIS Approval Rate i
99.7%
Official Adjudication
State Economic & Immigration Overview
An automated macro-level review of Iowa's tech ecosystem.Iowa Hiring Grade
The job market in Iowa created 324 total visa applications. Based on this hiring demand, the area secures an H1B Index Grade of "B".
New Job Creation
Instead of just transferring existing workers around, Iowa actively adds fresh jobs. A solid 81.0% of approved visas went to completely new hires.
Real Cost of Living
A baseline salary of $100,838 is a strong starting point, but living here has distinct costs. After paying the 5.0% state tax and local living expenses, true spending power is closer to $95,796.
Confirmed Approvals
The data shows a very safe hiring environment. Employers in Iowa secure a 99.7% success rate on work visas and currently sponsor 96 professionals for permanent residency.
Expert Skill Sets
If you are a senior candidate, Iowa offers a massive advantage. 38.6% of the sponsored opportunities in this state are engineered for highly experienced specialists.
Biggest Job Market
Most of the businesses sponsoring visas in Iowa are based in Cedar Rapids. This regional hiring is strongly driven by the Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services industry.
Layoff Radar & Risk Indicators
Clean Layoff Record
Perfect Safety Record: Businesses throughout Iowa have officially reported zero job cuts during this current period.
Top Metro Hubs in Iowa
Hiring volume across major cities mapped against the state baseline compensation rate of $100,838.Talent Sourcing Pipeline
Are companies hiring fresh talent or poaching from competitors?Fresh Hires (81.0%)Corporate Poaching (19.0%)
State Wage Premium
$6,052
Above Legal Minimum
On average, employers in Iowa offer salaries that are $6,052 higher than the baseline prevailing wage required by the Department of Labor.
10-Year Salary Trends
Comparing state-level base compensation growth for temporary H-1B visas versus permanent Green Cards (PERM). Upward Pay Trend: +52.1%. Employers pay noticeably more across this state today compared to past years.
Small Pay Difference: +$624. Changing to permanent residency in this state results in a small 0.6% difference in 2026 pay.
Top Hiring Employers
Companies sponsoring the most visas in this state.
Company & Median Pay
Total Approvals
O*NET Wage Level Distribution
Experience requirements matched against pay tiers across the state.| Experience Level | Total Filings | Cohort Size | Minimum Base | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (Level I) | 74 | 22.8% | $32,490 | $66,747 |
| Qualified (Level II) | 110 | 34.0% | $54,766 | $96,764 |
| Experienced (Level III) | 59 | 18.2% | $50,232 | $116,189 |
| Fully Competent (Level IV) | 66 | 20.4% | $60,000 | $133,494 |
| Not Disclosed (Blank) | 15 | 4.6% | $59,730 | $140,270 |
Geographic Deployment & Worksites
The top locations where state employers place their workers.| City/Metro Area | Workforce % | City Median Pay | Wage (Level IV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 13.6% (44 Filings) | $116,189 | 31.8% |
| West Des Moines, IA | 13.3% (43 Filings) | $106,122 | 23.3% |
| Des Moines, IA | 12.0% (39 Filings) | $117,412 | 35.9% |
| Iowa City, IA | 11.7% (38 Filings) | $78,336 | 0.0% |
| Ames, IA | 7.7% (25 Filings) | $81,120 | 24.0% |
| Johnston, IA | 5.9% (19 Filings) | $100,838 | 15.8% |
| Urbandale, IA | 3.7% (12 Filings) | $100,838 | 8.3% |
| Waukee, IA | 3.7% (12 Filings) | $124,074 | 25.0% |
| Davenport, IA | 3.1% (10 Filings) | $85,301 | 30.0% |
| Bettendorf, IA | 2.8% (9 Filings) | $112,715 | 33.3% |
| Ankeny, IA | 2.2% (7 Filings) | $124,100 | 28.6% |
| Waterloo, IA | 1.9% (6 Filings) | $188,240 | 0.0% |
| Pella, IA | 1.2% (4 Filings) | $97,843 | 50.0% |
| Cedar Falls, IA | 0.9% (3 Filings) | $104,000 | 33.3% |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 0.9% (3 Filings) | $135,000 | 33.3% |
| Fairfield, IA | 0.9% (3 Filings) | $32,490 | 0.0% |
| Sioux City, IA | 0.9% (3 Filings) | $72,010 | 0.0% |
| Dubuque, IA | 0.9% (3 Filings) | $64,000 | 0.0% |
| Altoona, IA | 0.9% (3 Filings) | $130,000 | 0.0% |
| Charles City, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $77,657 | 0.0% |
| Coralville, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $200,944 | 0.0% |
| Muscatine, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $95,000 | 100.0% |
| New London,, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $66,747 | 0.0% |
| Wapello,, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $66,747 | 0.0% |
| Rock Valley, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $62,712 | 0.0% |
| Oskaloosa, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $53,009 | 0.0% |
| Grimes, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $123,984 | 50.0% |
| Keosauqua, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $98,161 | 0.0% |
| Forest City, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $86,260 | 0.0% |
| Donnellson,, IA | 0.6% (2 Filings) | $66,747 | 0.0% |
| Denver, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $63,320 | 0.0% |
| Clarion, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $104,562 | 0.0% |
| Clinton, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $120,000 | 0.0% |
| Clive, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $71,376 | 0.0% |
| Estherville, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $68,744 | 0.0% |
| Des Monies, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $119,662 | 0.0% |
| Fayette, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $54,746 | 0.0% |
| Hiawatha, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $180,003 | 0.0% |
| Knoxville, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $60,195 | 0.0% |
| Irving, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $135,907 | 0.0% |
| Guttenberg, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $55,786 | 0.0% |
| Manning, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $54,766 | 0.0% |
| Shenandoah, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $66,165 | 0.0% |
| New Hampton, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $55,600 | 0.0% |
| Tripoli, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $33,280 | 0.0% |
| Storm Lake, IA | 0.3% (1 Filings) | $59,730 | 0.0% |
Most Poached Roles
Roles with the highest volume of H-1B transfers, indicating aggressive headhunting.
Role & Transfer Pay
Total Transferred
Dominant Industries
Distribution of cases by broad industry sector.40.7%
22.2%
11.4%
9.3%
7.1%
Historical Retention Rate
Year-over-year percentage of successful visa renewals and extensions.Top Third-Party End Clients i
Where consultants are deployed.
End Client & Placement Data
Total Approvals
Highest Compensation Roles i
Top positions ranked by median base pay.
Role & Market Data
Median Base
Law Firms & Third-Party Work i
Leading legal counsel for visas.
Law Firm & Market Data
Total Approvals
Visa Volume & Success
-86.2% YoY Decline
LCA approvals, denials, and overall certification rates.
USCIS Petition Processing
New vs. Renewed approvals and denials in the state.Green Card Sponsorships
PERM residency applications and median GC wages.Noticing a difference in dates? Salary metrics reflect real-time DOL filings, while approval metrics rely on finalized USCIS historical data. View timelines
Complete Employers Matrix
A detailed ledger of all corporate clients operating in Iowa.| Sponsoring Employer | Market Share | LCA Count | Median Salary | Vs State Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University Of Iowa | 11.4% | 37 | $72,492 | -28.1% Avg |
| Rockwell Collins Inc. | 7.4% | 24 | $118,258 | +17.3% Avg |
| Iowa State University Of Science And Technology | 6.8% | 22 | $65,738 | -34.8% Avg |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions Us Corp. | 6.8% | 22 | $120,432 | +19.4% Avg |
| Emonics LLC | 2.2% | 7 | $94,682 | -6.1% Avg |
| Grandison Management, Inc. | 2.2% | 7 | $66,747 | -33.8% Avg |
| Deere & Company | 1.5% | 5 | $134,000 | +32.9% Avg |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 1.5% | 5 | $172,873 | +71.4% Avg |
| Athene Annuity And Life Company | 1.5% | 5 | $140,270 | +39.1% Avg |
| Quality Consulting, Inc. | 1.2% | 4 | $120,214 | +19.2% Avg |
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | 1.2% | 4 | $130,614 | +29.5% Avg |
| Hcl America Inc. | 1.2% | 4 | $101,774 | Market Rate |
| Genesis Health System | 0.9% | 3 | $67,870 | -32.7% Avg |
| Ltimindtree Limited | 0.9% | 3 | $78,937 | -21.7% Avg |
| Sanav Technologies LLC | 0.9% | 3 | $76,482 | -24.2% Avg |
| Covenant Medical Center, Inc. | 0.9% | 3 | $276,754 | +174.5% Avg |
| Maharishi International University | 0.9% | 3 | $32,490 | -67.8% Avg |
| Casey'S Retail Company | 0.9% | 3 | $189,108 | +87.5% Avg |
| Mphasis Corporation | 0.9% | 3 | $79,248 | -21.4% Avg |
| Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 0.9% | 3 | $0 | N/A |
| Tata Consultancy Services Limited | 0.9% | 3 | $75,878 | -24.8% Avg |
| Softversal Inc. | 0.9% | 3 | $100,838 | Market Rate |
| Wellmark, Inc. | 0.9% | 3 | $138,507 | +37.4% Avg |
| The Weitz Group LLC | 0.9% | 3 | $99,466 | -1.4% Avg |
| Launch It Corp. | 0.6% | 2 | $100,838 | Market Rate |
| Kemin Industries, Inc. | 0.6% | 2 | $75,883 | -24.7% Avg |
| Deloitte & Touche LLP | 0.6% | 2 | $97,698 | -3.1% Avg |
| U.S. Bank National Association | 0.6% | 2 | $139,084 | +37.9% Avg |
| Jean Martin Inc. | 0.6% | 2 | $100,838 | Market Rate |
| Elanco Us Inc. | 0.6% | 2 | $117,500 | +16.5% Avg |
| Cyma Systems Inc. | 0.6% | 2 | $130,000 | +28.9% Avg |
| E-Giants Technologies LLC | 0.6% | 2 | $103,480 | +2.6% Avg |
| Genius Business Solutions Inc. | 0.6% | 2 | $95,000 | -5.8% Avg |
| Compunnel Software Group, Inc. | 0.6% | 2 | $106,000 | +5.1% Avg |
| Ust Global Inc. | 0.6% | 2 | $122,074 | +21.1% Avg |
| Sai Technologies, LLC | 0.6% | 2 | $79,436 | -21.2% Avg |
| Pioneer Consulting LLC | 0.6% | 2 | $91,416 | -9.3% Avg |
| Seven Seas Technologies, Inc. | 0.6% | 2 | $103,608 | +2.7% Avg |
| Sumee Consulting LLC | 0.6% | 2 | $95,118 | -5.7% Avg |
| L&T Technology Services Limited | 0.6% | 2 | $85,886 | -14.8% Avg |
Complete Jobs Matrix
The job titles most frequently sponsored in this state.| Job Title in State | LCA Count | Median Pay | Salary Variance | Legal Wage Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | 12 | $103,608 | $69,514 Range | +$2,770 Over Min |
| Principal Engineer, Software Engineering | 9 | $133,494 | $17,305 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Assistant Research Scientist | 7 | $69,000 | $11,494 Range | +$4,541 Over Min |
| Manager Jc50 - Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 7 | $106,122 | $11,815 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Ssis Developer | 7 | $94,682 | $64,293 Range | +$10,567 Over Min |
| Senior Engineer, Software Engineering | 6 | $116,189 | $17,306 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | 6 | $60,978 | $8,362 Range | +$6,669 Over Min |
| Assistant Teaching Professor | 6 | $62,500 | $36,288 Range | +$15,610 Over Min |
| Medical Technologist | 6 | $63,742 | $17,701 Range | +$15,111 Over Min |
| Postdoctoral Research Scholar | 5 | $63,120 | $4,986 Range | +$9,269 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor | 5 | $102,700 | $33,851 Range | +$29,030 Over Min |
| Clinical Assistant Professor | 4 | $202,880 | $168,884 Range | +$79,536 Over Min |
| Senior Software Engineer | 4 | $133,105 | $19,000 Range | +$13,443 Over Min |
| Physical Therapist | 4 | $66,747 | $582 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Project Manager Ii | 4 | $110,370 | $24,819 Range | +$10,904 Over Min |
| Senior Manager Jc45 - Database Architects | 4 | $140,234 | $2,683 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Senior Manager Jc45 - Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 4 | $128,149 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Software Engineer | 4 | $95,420 | $48,000 Range | +$8,444 Over Min |
| Automation Qa Engineer | 3 | $76,482 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Network Engineer | 3 | $84,115 | $22,069 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Research Assistant | 3 | $48,234 | $3,613 Range | +$26,935 Over Min |
| Associate Professor | 3 | $143,166 | $3,434 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Senior Application Developer | 3 | $97,392 | $18,213 Range | +$18,435 Over Min |
| Occupational Therapist | 3 | $66,747 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Software Developer Iii | 3 | $100,783 | $37,798 Range | +$1,692 Over Min |
| Computer Programmer | 2 | $78,937 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| .Net Developer | 2 | $100,838 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Info Security Engineer | 2 | $139,084 | Fixed Pay | +$29,499 Over Min |
| Clinical Associate Professor | 2 | $144,083 | $1,834 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Computer Systems Business Analyst | 2 | $95,000 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Engineer Ii, Software Engineering | 2 | $98,883 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| It Project Manager | 2 | $103,480 | $5,284 Range | +$8,362 Over Min |
| Ad Jc40 - Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 2 | $128,149 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Audit & Assurance Senior Manager | 2 | $97,698 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Architect | 2 | $75,878 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Lead Software Engineer | 2 | $145,319 | $13,624 Range | +$6,812 Over Min |
| Lead Workday Developer | 2 | $130,000 | Fixed Pay | +$10,338 Over Min |
| Java Developer | 2 | $91,416 | $18,844 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Management Analysts - Kbgfjg77147-9 | 2 | $115,162 | Fixed Pay | +$38,067 Over Min |
| Manufacturing Engineer | 2 | $79,687 | $2,334 Range | Baseline Pay |
Historical Compensation Ledger
Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.| Fiscal Year | YoY Growth | Maximum | Median | Top-Heavy Skew i | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | In Progress | $280,000 | $98,883 | Balanced | $26.00/hr |
| 2025 | +3.9% | $400,000 | $90,000 | +5.9% Skew | $13.00/hr |
| 2024 | +0.7% | $385,000 | $86,590 | +6.5% Skew | $12.00/hr |
| 2023 | +1.5% | $400,000 | $86,000 | +5.9% Skew | $15.00/hr |
| 2022 | Flat | $400,000 | $84,718 | Balanced | $12.00/hr |
| 2021 | +5.1% | $400,000 | $84,760 | Balanced | $19.00/hr |
| 2020 | +4.7% | $400,000 | $80,640 | Balanced | $10.00/hr |
| 2019 | +2.7% | $400,000 | $77,000 | Balanced | $16.00/hr |
| 2018 | +9.5% | $399,131 | $75,000 | Balanced | $13.00/hr |
| 2017 | +5.4% | $400,000 | $68,500 | +10.6% Skew | $8.00/hr |
| 2016 | N/A | $400,000 | $65,000 | +11.8% Skew | $12.00/hr |
Recent Visa Filings (FY 2026)
Raw, unedited federal disclosures processed in this state.State Intelligence (FAQ)
Common questions and insights regarding Iowa.What is the tax rate on a professional salary in Iowa?
Local state income tax averages approximately 5.0%. An H-1B worker taking home $100,838 here will pay an estimated $5,042 to the state.
Do employers in Iowa offer permanent residency?
There is an active pathway to permanent residency here. Employers recently submitted 96 PERM applications, establishing a 29.6% Green Card rate.
What type of companies sponsor the most visas in Iowa?
The highest volume of job offers originates from the Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services industry, which accounts for 40.7% of the state's total sponsorships.
What is the best-paying market in Iowa?
For candidates looking to maximize compensation, Cedar Rapids leads the state with a median salary of $116,189.