Jobs, pay and daily life in Dubuque, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Dubuque is a city in Iowa with 59,174 residents. The median household earns $65,845 a year and the median rent is $948 a month, which is 17.3% of the median household income. It is part of the Dubuque, IA metropolitan area, where BLS counts 58,470 jobs.
How Dubuque compares. Among the 60 largest places in Iowa, Dubuque is #11 by population, #6 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #24 for remote work (#1 = most), #26 for college degrees (#1 = most). Its county, Dubuque County, is #14 of 99 counties for average pay ($58,669).
Dubuque has 59,174 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 1.8% of the population of Iowa. It covers 31 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,892 people per square mile. The median age is 38.1, about the same as the state median (38.1 against 38.6).
The median gross rent is $948 a month (rent plus utilities), about the same as the state median ($948 against $972). Over a year that is 17.3% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $204,800, which is 3.1 times the median household income ($65,845); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 65.8% of households own their home, 8% below the state average (65.8% against 71.7%).
The Dubuque, IA metropolitan area has 58,470 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $48,750 a year, 4% below the national median ($48,750 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (7,060 jobs, median $46,330); transportation and material moving (5,530 jobs, median $45,480); food preparation and serving related (5,210 jobs, median $30,090). The area is most specialised in transportation and material moving (1.1 times) and office and administrative support (1.1 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are office and administrative support ($46,330) and transportation and material moving ($45,480). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Dubuque County was 3.1%. 64.6% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Dubuque County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 76.6% drive alone, 1.3% use public transit, 2.9% walk, 11.8% work from home. 3.3% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 60% below the state average (3.3% against 8.2%).
34.0% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 8% above the state share (34.0% against 31.4%). 3.9% of residents were born outside the United States, 34% below the state share (3.9% against 5.9%). The poverty rate is 12.7%, 15% above the state rate (12.7% against 11.1%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 73°F (23.0°C), and the coolest is Jan at 19°F (-7.3°C). About 959 mm (38 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jun is the wettest month (137 mm) and Jan the driest (31 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Clinton (51 miles, rent 17% lower); Marion (55 miles, similar rent); Freeport (57 miles, rent 16% lower); Hiawatha (59 miles, rent 10% lower). Rent differences are against Dubuque; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Iowa (226) →State guide: IowaCountry guideDubuque CountyIowa rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 226 federal postings open in Iowa (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representatives | 1,880 | 1.92 | $46,670 | $37,050 | $61,690 | +4% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,810 | 1.23 | $30,960 | $25,750 | $45,320 | -13% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,600 | 1.10 | $28,680 | $21,930 | $36,340 | -8% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,310 | 1.69 | $58,470 | $41,790 | $76,530 | -0% |
| Registered Nurses | 1,280 | 1.00 | $76,790 | $65,700 | $96,570 | -21% |
| Cashiers | 1,240 | 1.07 | $30,500 | $23,600 | $36,700 | -7% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,170 | 0.89 | $92,530 | $40,560 | $194,720 | -13% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,020 | 0.63 | $38,090 | $32,220 | $46,220 | +6% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,020 | 0.96 | $36,850 | $30,370 | $48,020 | -1% |
| Nursing Assistants | 1,010 | 1.85 | $41,580 | $36,850 | $50,430 | -2% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 980 | 0.88 | $45,960 | $34,590 | $54,720 | +14% |
| Office Clerks, General | 920 | 0.99 | $44,980 | $30,320 | $61,750 | -0% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 810 | 0.95 | $20,060 | $15,080 | $47,300 | -43% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 800 | 1.52 | $50,320 | $36,540 | $56,910 | +13% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 710 | 1.34 | $30,410 | $22,340 | $37,350 | -17% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 690 | 0.84 | $35,800 | $28,930 | $48,510 | -3% |
| Light Truck Drivers | 660 | 1.78 | $41,810 | $31,280 | $61,900 | -7% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 640 | 1.37 | $63,560 | $40,120 | $122,350 | -12% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 570 | 0.99 | $54,360 | $37,470 | $73,890 | +10% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 560 | 1.08 | $57,840 | $44,230 | $77,840 | -10% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 1,170 | 0.89 | $92,530 | $40,560 | $194,720 | -13% |
| Registered Nurses | 1,280 | 1.00 | $76,790 | $65,700 | $96,570 | -21% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 640 | 1.37 | $63,560 | $40,120 | $122,350 | -12% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,310 | 1.69 | $58,470 | $41,790 | $76,530 | -0% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 560 | 1.08 | $57,840 | $44,230 | $77,840 | -10% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 570 | 0.99 | $54,360 | $37,470 | $73,890 | +10% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 800 | 1.52 | $50,320 | $36,540 | $56,910 | +13% |
| Construction Laborers | 500 | 1.21 | $48,800 | $38,770 | $76,540 | +4% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 520 | 1.01 | $47,630 | $32,450 | $63,460 | -6% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 1,880 | 1.92 | $46,670 | $37,050 | $61,690 | +4% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 980 | 0.88 | $45,960 | $34,590 | $54,720 | +14% |
| Office Clerks, General | 920 | 0.99 | $44,980 | $30,320 | $61,750 | -0% |
| Light Truck Drivers | 660 | 1.78 | $41,810 | $31,280 | $61,900 | -7% |
| Nursing Assistants | 1,010 | 1.85 | $41,580 | $36,850 | $50,430 | -2% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,020 | 0.63 | $38,090 | $32,220 | $46,220 | +6% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,020 | 0.96 | $36,850 | $30,370 | $48,020 | -1% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 690 | 0.84 | $35,800 | $28,930 | $48,510 | -3% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,810 | 1.23 | $30,960 | $25,750 | $45,320 | -13% |
| Cashiers | 1,240 | 1.07 | $30,500 | $23,600 | $36,700 | -7% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 710 | 1.34 | $30,410 | $22,340 | $37,350 | -17% |
These figures are for the whole Dubuque, IA metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $48,750 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.1% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.9% |
| Manufacturing | 16.6% |
| Retail trade | 11.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.4% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 8.1% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 8.0% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 5.0% |
| Construction | 4.3% |
| Other services | 4.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 3.0% |
| Public administration | 1.7% |
| Information | 1.5% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.7% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Dubuque lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque County | 99,030 | $9,160 million | $92,496 | 58,413 | 3,728 | $58,669 | -0.2% | 3.1% | 52,161 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 10,492 | 19.6% | $77,753 | 2.19 |
| Health care and social assistance | 8,610 | 16.1% | $56,250 | 1.03 |
| Retail trade | 6,447 | 12.0% | $34,130 | 1.11 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,260 | 8.0% | $20,394 | 0.80 |
| Finance and insurance | 4,253 | 7.9% | $86,535 | 1.79 |
| Wholesale trade | 3,072 | 5.7% | $72,204 | 1.33 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 2,947 | 5.5% | $55,698 | 1.19 |
| Construction | 2,704 | 5.1% | $73,680 | 0.88 |
| Educational services | 2,479 | 4.6% | $36,277 | 2.05 |
| Professional and technical services | 1,905 | 3.6% | $86,956 | 0.47 |
| Administrative and waste services | 1,581 | 3.0% | $45,075 | 0.46 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 1,440 | 2.7% | $32,826 | 1.47 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 1,233 | 2.3% | $41,189 | 0.70 |
| Management of companies | 909 | 1.7% | $107,334 | 0.92 |
| Information | 700 | 1.3% | $75,432 | 0.64 |
| Real estate and rental | 390 | 0.7% | $50,492 | 0.43 |
| Utilities | 96 | 0.2% | $125,321 | 0.43 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 76.6% |
| Public transit | 1.3% |
| Walk | 2.9% |
| Work from home | 11.8% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 3.3% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $65,845 |
| Income per person | $38,244 |
| Median gross rent per month | $948 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 17.3% |
| Median home value | $204,800 |
| Homeowners | 65.8% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 87.3 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $48,750 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 3.80%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 93.7% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 34.0% |
| Born abroad | 3.9% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 64.6% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -7.3 | 19 | 31 |
| Feb | -5.8 | 22 | 37 |
| Mar | 1.6 | 35 | 55 |
| Apr | 8.5 | 47 | 95 |
| May | 14.9 | 59 | 109 |
| Jun | 20.6 | 69 | 137 |
| Jul | 23.0 | 73 | 112 |
| Aug | 21.9 | 71 | 103 |
| Sep | 17.6 | 64 | 98 |
| Oct | 9.7 | 49 | 79 |
| Nov | 2.5 | 36 | 54 |
| Dec | -4.3 | 24 | 49 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton | IA | 51 mi | 24,322 | $60,230 | $791 |
| Marion | IA | 55 mi | 41,896 | $86,743 | $961 |
| Freeport | IL | 57 mi | 23,505 | $51,723 | $793 |
| Hiawatha | IA | 59 mi | 7,206 | $66,270 | $855 |
| Eldridge | IA | 60 mi | 6,818 | $106,316 | $945 |
| Cedar Rapids | IA | 62 mi | 137,264 | $70,424 | $967 |
| Davenport | IA | 65 mi | 100,913 | $66,200 | $978 |
| Bettendorf | IA | 65 mi | 39,647 | $100,495 | $1,187 |
| Verona | WI | 68 mi | 15,232 | $119,606 | $1,605 |
| North Liberty | IA | 70 mi | 21,125 | $102,102 | $1,246 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
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59,174 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$948 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 17.3% of the median household income.
$65,845 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.1% (BLS county, Dubuque County (latest month 2026M09)).
Iowa. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.