Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Front Office Salary in Iowa
The median dental front office earns $40,980 a year in Iowa ($19.70 an hour), with the middle half earning between $37,560 and $46,980.[1]
25th percentile
$37,560
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$40,980
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$46,980
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $40,980 per year or $19.70/hr at the median. Iowa runs about 11% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Iowa
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental front office staff in Iowa earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Iowa hourly | Iowa annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $16.94 | $35,240 | $17.27 | $35,930 |
| 25th percentile | $18.06 | $37,560 | $18.54 | $38,570 |
| Median | $19.70 | $40,980 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
| 75th percentile | $22.59 | $46,980 | $24.32 | $50,580 |
| 90th percentile | $24.10 | $50,130 | $29.10 | $60,530 |
| Mean (average) | $20.57 | $42,790 | $22.50 | $46,800 |
How many dental front office staff work in Iowa
10,560
6.77
1.10
How Iowa compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $40,980 in Iowa vs. $45,930 nationally, $4,950 (11%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $35,240 vs. $35,930, 2% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $50,130 vs. $60,530, 17% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 10.7% in Iowa vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dental Front Office pay by metro area in Iowa
All 9 Iowa metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $50,130 | $40,980–$50,130 | 1,290 |
| Omaha | $46,340 | $41,730–$48,680 | 2,120 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $42,160 | $38,380–$46,840 | 2,350 |
| Sioux City | $41,890 | $38,180–$46,210 | 400 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $40,660 | $37,650–$46,520 | 620 |
| Ames | $40,210 | $37,200–$45,980 | 420 |
| Dubuque | $39,340 | $37,570–$46,140 | 410 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $39,270 | $37,280–$45,880 | 1,150 |
| Cedar Rapids | $38,830 | $37,560–$46,350 | 920 |
Job outlook for dental front office staff in Iowa
Iowa's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 10.7% over 2024–2034, from 9,690 to 10,730 jobs, with about 1,070 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
What drives dental front office pay in Iowa
Pay for a dental front office depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
For dental pros
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Dental Front Office salary in Iowa: FAQ
How much do dental front office staff make in Iowa?
The median annual wage for dental front office staff in Iowa was $40,980 ($19.70 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $37,560 and $46,980. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $35,240 and the top 10% earned over $50,130.
Do dental front office staff in Iowa earn more than the national median?
No. The Iowa median of $40,980 is lower than the U.S. median of $45,930. That is $4,950 (11%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Iowa metro area pays dental front office staff the most?
Among the 9 Iowa metro areas with published BLS data, Iowa City has the highest median at $50,130 a year. Cedar Rapids has the lowest, at $38,830.
How many dental front office staff work in Iowa?
BLS estimates 10,560 dental front office staff were employed in Iowa in May 2025. That is 6.77 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.10, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental front office staff growing in Iowa?
Iowa's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 10.7% over 2024–2034, from 9,690 to 10,730 jobs. That works out to about 1,070 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
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Dental Front Office salary by state
- Dental Front Office salary in California
- Dental Front Office salary in Texas
- Dental Front Office salary in Florida
- Dental Front Office salary in New York
- Dental Front Office salary in Illinois
- Dental Front Office salary in Pennsylvania
- Dental Front Office salary in Ohio
- Dental Front Office salary in Georgia
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (43-6013), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, Iowa long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants