Pharmacy Aide salary in Iowa
Pharmacy Aides in Iowa earn a median of $33,270 a year ($16.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,360 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $37,680. Iowa ranks 43rd of 48 states for pharmacy aides pay. There are 0.69 pharmacy aides per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $33,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pharmacy aides in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,260 | $10.70 |
| 25th percentile | $29,030 | $13.96 |
| Median | $33,270 | $16.00 |
| 75th percentile | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| Average (mean) | $33,680 | $16.19 |
Half of pharmacy aides earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,772.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,386.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,279.62 |
| Weekly | $639.81 |
| Hourly | $16.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pharmacy Aide salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $36,370 | 100 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $35,760 | 230 |
| Dubuque, IA | $35,440 | 30 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $35,120 | 340 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,070 | 50 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $31,850 | 50 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $31,220 | 50 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $31,140 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for pharmacy aides
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $59,960 |
| Utah | $51,600 |
| Hawaii | $46,250 |
| Washington | $45,110 |
| Arizona | $43,360 |
| California | $42,200 |
| Oregon | $40,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,470 |
| Nevada | $39,080 |
| Texas | $38,630 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $45,480 | $21.87 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $35,720 | $17.18 |
| Phlebotomist | $38,240 | $18.38 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $39,930 | $19.20 |
| Massage Therapist | $57,710 | $27.75 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $36,080 | $17.34 |
| Nursing Assistant | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $61,030 | $29.34 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $64,140 | $30.84 |
| Psychiatric Aide | $39,260 | $18.88 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $29,120 | $14.00 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9095. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy aide make in Iowa?
The median salary for pharmacy aides in Iowa is $33,270 a year, or $16.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacy aides make in Iowa?
The top 10% of pharmacy aides in Iowa earn at least $44,360 a year. The top 25% earn $36,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacy aides in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,260 a year, and a quarter of pharmacy aides earn $29,030 or less.
How many pharmacy aides work in Iowa?
About 1,070 pharmacy aides are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.