If you want evidence of a state’s economic health, you need not look any further than job projections among its human resources professions. In short, a growing economy can be directly linked to a flourishing human resources field. After all, more jobs mean plenty of opportunities for professionals who are responsible for managing a growing workforce.
This is especially true in Iowa, where positive job projections for HR pros of all levels are backed by a strong economy and the lowest unemployment level in 17 years (just 2.5 percent, as of August 2019).
According to the Iowa Workforce Development, many of the professions in human resources here are projected to not just show positive growth, but double-digit growth between 2016 and 2026, including compensation and benefits managers (10%), compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists (16.2%), HR managers (13.8%), training managers (12.5%), and compensation and benefits managers (15.9%).
Human Resources Management Salaries in Iowa
Jobs in human resources management are reserved for those with advanced education, extensive experience, and national certification – and their salaries reflect this high level of skill and expertise.
HR professionals optimize their chances of earning the highest salaries in the field by earning graduate degrees in human. Through several years of formal experience and the right education, HR workers may eventually qualify for management or executive positions that offer the greatest salary potential.
In most cases, HR management professionals in Iowa earn close to the six figures, even at the median level. For example, compensation and benefits managers here earn a median salary of $94,870, while human resources managers earn a median salary of $98,760.
Additional information on what HR managers, supervisors, and executives in Iowa can expect to earn in the state’s largest metro areas of Des Moines and Cedar Rapids is available in the following tables:
Des Moines
Work in HR management in Des Moines and you’ll likely enjoy a salary that approaches or even tops six figures. For example, compensation and benefits managers here earn a median salary of $130,650 – or more than $30,000 more than the state average.
Cedar Rapids
Both HR managers and training and development managers in Cedar Rapids earn salaries that top $100,000 at the median level. For example, training and development managers here earn a median salary of $106,460 and a top (90th percentile) salary of $145,670.
Salaries for Human Resource Specialists and Managers in Iowa
Earn a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field and you’ll likely qualify for jobs in HR specialty and assistant positions. While the salaries for these professionals tend to be significantly lower than their management counterparts, many of these professionals enjoy competitive salaries that often beat out the national average. For example, labor relations specialists in Iowa earn a median salary of $67,740 – that’s about $4,000 more than the national median salary for this profession.
Additional insight into salaries for HR specialists and assistants in Iowa’s largest metro areas of Cedar Rapids and Des Moines is available through the following tables:
Des Moines
The top earners at the median level in Des Moines are labor relations specialists, who earn a median salary of $77,800 and a top (90th percentile) of $100,940.
Cedar Rapids
HR specialists and assistants in the Cedar Rapids metro area enjoy salaries that hover in the $40,000-$50,000 average salary range. For example, labor relations specialists earn a median salary of $42,950, while training and development specialists earn a median salary of $49,520.
Salary and employment data compiled by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2018 for human resources managers, specialists, and assistants – https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ia.htm#11-9111. The BLS salary data shown here represents median – 90th percentile salary ranges for the state and its MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries.
Job growth projections sourced from the Iowa Workforce Development and published in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2016-2026) database – https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in September 2019.