Source: SalaryDr salary data for in Iowa (N=129 verified submissions, updated March 27, 2026, data as of 2026-03-27). URL: https://www.salarydr.com
Physician Salary in Iowa (2026)
The average physician salary in Iowa is $451,001 across all specialties, based on 129 verified submissions on SalaryDr. The median is $365,000, with a typical range of $330,000–$535,000.
Source: SalaryDr verified data • Updated Mar 2026
Cost of Living in Iowa
The cost of living in Iowa is below the national average (index: 0.89x). Physicians practicing in Iowa benefit from greater purchasing power, often making it one of the more financially attractive states for practice.
Physician Salaries by Specialty in Iowa
| Specialty | Median Salary | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 | 1 |
| Cardiothoracic Surgery | $1,200,000 | $1,200,000 | 1 |
| Neurosurgery | $1,100,000 | $1,030,000 | 2 |
| Pediatric Surgery | $1,000,000 | $837,500 | 2 |
| Thoracic Surgery | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | 1 |
| Cardiology | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | 1 |
| Plastic Surgery | $900,000 | $582,500 | 2 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $860,000 | $856,667 | 3 |
| Hematology/Oncology | $700,000 | $585,000 | 4 |
| General Surgery | $700,000 | $666,667 | 3 |
| Sleep Medicine | $600,000 | $500,000 | 2 |
| Interventional Radiology | $590,000 | $590,000 | 1 |
| Radiation Oncology | $585,000 | $585,000 | 1 |
| Gastroenterology | $540,000 | $540,000 | 1 |
| Gynecologic Oncology | $540,000 | $540,000 | 1 |
| Anesthesiology | $540,000 | $541,429 | 7 |
| Burn Surgery | $535,000 | $535,000 | 1 |
| Maternal-Fetal Medicine | $525,000 | $525,000 | 1 |
| Clinical Informatics | $500,000 | $425,000 | 2 |
| Pain Medicine | $500,000 | $500,000 | 1 |
| Critical Care | $480,000 | $480,000 | 1 |
| Neonatology | $405,000 | $397,500 | 2 |
| Neurology | $395,000 | $398,333 | 3 |
| Psychiatry | $380,000 | $375,000 | 5 |
| Infectious Disease | $375,000 | $398,000 | 5 |
| Sports Medicine | $375,000 | $375,000 | 1 |
| Allergy & Immunology | $370,000 | $358,750 | 4 |
| Occupational Medicine | $370,000 | $365,000 | 4 |
| Emergency Medicine | $365,000 | $409,861 | 6 |
| Hospital Medicine | $360,000 | $357,500 | 2 |
| Rheumatology | $360,000 | $405,000 | 5 |
| Internal Medicine | $350,000 | $336,000 | 5 |
| Endocrinology | $350,000 | $342,500 | 2 |
| Preventive Medicine | $340,000 | $332,500 | 2 |
| Palliative Care | $340,000 | $340,000 | 1 |
| Addiction Medicine | $335,000 | $335,000 | 1 |
| Child Neurology | $335,000 | $330,000 | 2 |
| Pulmonary | $330,000 | $398,333 | 3 |
| Geriatrics | $330,000 | $321,667 | 3 |
| Family Medicine | $315,000 | $317,222 | 9 |
| Pediatrics | $305,000 | $327,826 | 23 |
| Medical Genetics | $300,000 | $295,000 | 2 |
Top Cities for Physicians in Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions: Physician Salary in Iowa
What is the average physician salary in Iowa?
The average physician salary in Iowa is $451,001, with a median of $365,000, based on 129 verified submissions on SalaryDr.
Which medical specialty pays the most in Iowa?
Based on SalaryDr data, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has the highest median salary in Iowa at $1,400,000.
How does the cost of living in Iowa affect physician pay?
The cost of living in Iowa is below the national average. Physicians should factor in housing, taxes, and everyday expenses when evaluating offers.
What cities in Iowa pay physicians the most?
Top cities for physician employment in Iowa include Des Moines, Iowa City, Davenport, Cedar Rapids. Urban areas tend to offer higher salaries but also higher living costs.
How many physicians report salary data in Iowa?
SalaryDr currently has 129 verified physician salary submissions from Iowa.
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