H-1B Visa Jobs in Iowa
Iowa has 15,068 certified H-1B filings from FY 2020–2026, ranking #31 of 52 U.S. states by filing volume. The median H-1B salary in Iowa is $86,996, which is 31% below the national H-1B median of $126,302. The largest sponsor is THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, and the busiest metro is Des Moines, IA.
H-1B salary range in Iowa
Salary percentiles across 15,068 certified filings. The middle 50% of H-1B workers in Iowa earn between $71,906 and $110,000.
- 10th percentile
- $59,527
- 25th percentile
- $71,906
- Median
- $86,996
- 75th percentile
- $110,000
- 90th percentile
- $155,830
Annual H-1B filings in Iowa
Certified LCA filings per fiscal year. FY 2020: 2,727 · FY 2026: 1,604.
Top H-1B sponsors in Iowa
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA leads with 1,645 certified filings at a $76,500 median. Each row links to the full employer profile.
| Rank | Employer | Filings | Median salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA | 1,645 | $76,500 |
| 2 | ROCKWELL COLLINS | 765 | $104,478 |
| 3 | COGNIZANT | 756 | $87,069 |
| 4 | IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | 752 | $65,696 |
| 5 | TATA | 415 | $70,470 |
| 6 | EY | 196 | $115,000 |
| 7 | HCL | 166 | $81,038 |
| 8 | IOWA PHYSICIANS CLINIC MEDICAL FOUNDATION | 152 | $300,000 |
| 9 | MAHARISHI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY | 152 | $60,000 |
| 10 | COMPUNNEL | 132 | $92,000 |
| 11 | DEERE & | 120 | $114,209 |
| 12 | QUALITY CONSULTING | 110 | $85,467 |
| 13 | DELOITTE | 108 | $96,450 |
| 14 | ATHENE ANNUITY AND LIFE | 106 | $111,000 |
| 15 | GENESIS HEALTH SYSTEM | 105 | $74,298 |
Top H-1B metros in Iowa
Des Moines, IA is the busiest metro with 2,573 certified filings. Each row links to a city page with employer and salary detail.
| Rank | City | Filings | Median salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines, IA | 2,573 | $87,984 |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 2,050 | $95,763 |
| 3 | Iowa City, IA | 1,927 | $78,900 |
| 4 | West Des Moines, IA | 1,548 | $92,000 |
| 5 | Ames, IA | 1,055 | $72,608 |
| 6 | Johnston, IA | 790 | $96,000 |
| 7 | Urbandale, IA | 424 | $95,000 |
| 8 | Davenport, IA | 311 | $85,051 |
| 9 | Waterloo, IA | 287 | $100,900 |
| 10 | Fairfield, IA | 281 | $69,000 |
| 11 | Waukee, IA | 244 | $100,000 |
| 12 | Ankeny, IA | 200 | $100,000 |
| 13 | Cedar Falls, IA | 197 | $85,900 |
| 14 | Bettendorf, IA | 180 | $92,830 |
| 15 | Muscatine, IA | 155 | $117,832 |
Top H-1B job titles in Iowa
Software Developer is the most common H-1B role in the state with 1,123 filings. Job-title pages link to national salary data for the same role.
| Rank | Job title | Filings | Median salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Developer | 1,123 | $88,225 |
| 2 | Assistant Professor | 973 | $110,000 |
| 3 | Software Engineer | 798 | $87,000 |
| 4 | Senior Software Engineer | 453 | $108,139 |
| 5 | Medical Technologist | 358 | $56,160 |
| 6 | Physician | 326 | $273,853 |
| 7 | Architect | 289 | $72,134 |
| 8 | Research Scientist | 263 | $69,992 |
| 9 | Associate Research Associate | 212 | $56,000 |
| 10 | Research Associate | 210 | $57,510 |
| 11 | Manager | 206 | $88,816 |
| 12 | Principal Physician | 183 | $73,800 |
| 13 | Senior Systems Analyst | 175 | $72,405 |
| 14 | Senior Software Developer | 157 | $98,426 |
| 15 | Systems Analyst | 137 | $82,098 |
Wage level distribution in Iowa
DOL prevailing wage levels. Level I is entry-level; Level IV is expert-level. A state skewed higher on this scale typically reflects more senior hiring or higher-complexity roles.
Frequently asked questions
How many H-1B visas are issued in Iowa?
Iowa has 15,068 certified H-1B labor condition applications from FY 2020–2026. It ranks #31 of 52 U.S. states by H-1B filing volume.
What is the average H-1B salary in Iowa?
The median H-1B salary in Iowa is $86,996, 31% below the national median of $126,302. The middle 50% of filings fall between $71,906 and $110,000, and the 90th percentile reaches $155,830.
Which companies sponsor the most H-1B workers in Iowa?
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA is the top sponsor with 1,645 filings at a $76,500 median. Other leading employers include ROCKWELL COLLINS, COGNIZANT, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, TATA.
What are the busiest H-1B cities in Iowa?
Des Moines, IA leads with 2,573 filings, followed by Cedar Rapids, IA, Iowa City, IA, West Des Moines, IA.