Government Jobs in Iowa: Employers & Pay

1,837

local governments (2022)

counties

943

cities, towns and townships

453

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Iowa state government pay plan

Iowa Department of Administrative Services publishes the classification and pay plan for Iowa state employees: 896 job classes and 195 pay grades, effective June 19, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the IA plan	Annual range
Accountant (government)	Accountant 2–3 4 classes	$45,718 – $98,634
Administrative Assistant (government)	Administrative Support Assistant 1–5, Administrative Assistant 1–2 12 classes	$33,779 – $85,342
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Administrative Law Judge 1–3 4 classes	$81,203 – $149,302
Budget Analyst	Budget Analyst 1–5 9 classes	$47,715 – $124,883
Child Support Officer	Child Support Recovery Officer 1 class	$48,630 – $71,157
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Transportation Engineer, Transportation Engineer Specialist, Transportation Engineer Senior 3 classes	$73,674 – $135,907
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Procurement Specialist 1–5 5 classes	$45,718 – $124,883
Correctional Counselor / Case Manager	Correctional Counselor 1 class	$56,992 – $86,362
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Senior Correctional Officer, Correctional Officer 2 classes	$51,979 – $77,709
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Evidence Technician, Forensic Science Technician 2 classes	$47,715 – $70,720
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Custodial Worker, Custodial Assistant 2 classes	$31,096 – $55,973
Detective / Criminal Investigator	Special Agent 1–2, Special Investigator 4 classes	$65,749 – $120,245
Emergency Management Specialist	Emergency Management Specialist 1–2 2 classes	$56,306 – $98,634
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Engineering Technician Senior 1 class	$61,755 – $94,037
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Engineer, Environmental Engineer Senior 2 classes	$63,586 – $119,038
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Specialist, Environmental Specialist Senior 2 classes	$54,350 – $94,765
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist, Epidemiologist Senior 2 classes	$73,674 – $130,603
Fish & Game Warden	Conservation Officer 1 class	$70,574 – $106,018
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	District Mechanic, Mechanic 2 classes	$56,306 – $85,342
Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state)	Meat Inspector, Dairy Products Inspector 2 classes	$43,742 – $67,454
Forester	Forester 2–3 2 classes	$56,992 – $98,634
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Attorney 1–3 6 classes	$63,586 – $156,499
Government Auditor	Field Auditor, Internal Auditor 3 classes	$53,851 – $94,037
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Equipment Operator, Equipment Operator Senior, Heavy Equipment Operator 3 classes	$41,933 – $67,454
Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)	Highway Technician, Highway Technician Senior 2 classes	$50,398 – $81,806
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Revenue Agent 1–3, Revenue Examiner 1–3, Revenue Auditor 2–3 8 classes	$41,933 – $94,037
IT Specialist (government)	Information Technology Specialist 1–5 10 classes	$47,715 – $124,883
Judicial Law Clerk	Law Clerk 1 class	$43,742 – $64,314
Park Ranger (NPS / state / county)	Park Ranger 1 class	$70,574 – $106,018
Parole Officer	Probation/Parole Officer 1–3 4 classes	$51,979 – $98,634
Policy / Management Analyst	Management Analyst 1–4 7 classes	$45,718 – $113,464
Probation Officer	Probation/Parole Officer 1–3 4 classes	$51,979 – $98,634
Public Defender	Public Defender 1–3 3 classes	$63,586 – $156,499
Social Worker (government)	Social Worker 2–6 7 classes	$50,232 – $94,765
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	Trooper 1–3 5 classes	$60,632 – $109,533
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)	Power Plant Engineer 1–4 6 classes	No fixed rate
Urban / City Planner	Transportation Planner 1–4 4 classes	$50,398 – $124,883
Veterans Service Officer	Veterans Benefits Specialist 1 class	$47,715 – $70,720
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, Rehabilitation Counselor 2 classes	$52,042 – $86,362
Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist	Natural Resources Biologist 1 class	$56,992 – $86,362

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Iowa Department of Administrative Services, Iowa FY 2027 Classification Plan and Pay Plans. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Iowa

Fire departments · 78

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Des Moines Fire Department	Des Moines	312	Official site
Cedar Rapids Fire Department	Cedar Rapids	144	Official site
Davenport Fire Department	Davenport	135	—
Sioux City Fire Rescue	Sioux City	113	Official site
Waterloo Fire Rescue	Waterloo	106	Official site
Council Bluffs Fire Department	Council Bluffs	104	Official site
Dubuque Fire Department	Dubuque	89	Official site
West Des Moines Fire Department	West Des Moines	68	Official site
185th Air Refueling Wing Fire Department	Sioux City	65	—
Urbandale Fire Department	Urbandale	58	Official site

All 78 fire departments in Iowa →

Transit agencies · 36

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority	Des Moines	138	Official site
10-15 Regional Transit Agency	Ottumwa	93	Official site
Southwest Iowa Planning Council	Atlantic	70	Official site
Ames Transit Agency	Ames	62	Official site
North Iowa Area Council of Governments	Mason City	50	Official site
Region 12 Council of Governments	Carroll	49	Official site
Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency	Urbandale	28	Official site
University of Iowa	Iowa City	28	Official site
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Black Hawk County	Waterloo	27	Official site
Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission	West Burlington	25	Official site

All 36 transit agencies in Iowa →

School districts · 325

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Des Moines	2,067	Official site
Iowa City Comm School District	Iowa City	1,087	Official site
Cedar Rapids Comm School District	Cedar Rapids	1,059	Official site
Davenport Comm School District	Davenport	983	Official site
Sioux City Comm School District	Sioux City	967	Official site
Waukee Comm School District	Waukee	871	Official site
Ankeny Comm School District	Ankeny	822	Official site
Waterloo Comm School District	Waterloo	792	Official site
Dubuque Comm School District	Dubuque	787	Official site
West Des Moines Comm School District	West Des Moines	628	Official site

All 325 school districts in Iowa →

Police departments · 169

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 169 police departments in Iowa →

Sheriff's offices · 99

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 99 sheriff's offices in Iowa →

Campus police departments · 3

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 3 campus police departments in Iowa →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Iowa

Median wage in Iowa for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in IA	Median in IA	National, government
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	34,420	$78,630	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	34,420	$78,630	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	34,420	$78,630	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	34,420	$78,630	$100,490
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	30,760	$87,690	$137,300
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	30,100	$46,090	$45,860
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	24,520	$30,510	$36,990
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	23,960	$35,380	$39,640
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	23,120	$44,310	$46,170
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	17,300	$60,580	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	17,300	$60,580	$65,310
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	13,210	$77,440	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	13,210	$77,440	$81,390
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	12,830	$45,150	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	12,830	$45,150	$48,290
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	12,310	$61,200	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	12,310	$61,200	$74,220
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	9,900	$80,470	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	9,900	$80,470	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	9,900	$80,470	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	9,900	$80,470	$91,060
School Cafeteria / Food Service Worker SOC 35-2012	8,860	$35,810	$36,180
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	8,800	$38,920	$40,080
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	7,930	$66,710	$80,330
Substitute Teacher SOC 25-3031	7,300	$37,230	$43,690
Middle School Teacher SOC 25-2022	6,270	$60,450	$65,300
Public Pre-K Teacher SOC 25-2011	5,910	$33,830	$60,040
Heavy Equipment Operator (government) SOC 47-2073	5,530	$60,330	$52,750
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	5,130	$74,470	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	5,130	$74,470	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Iowa