Salaries in Council Bluffs, IA

Here’s the thing about Council Bluffs: you can make a good living here without the crazy competition you’d face in a bigger city. The unemployment rate is just 2.8%, which means if you’ve got skills, you’re in the driver’s seat. It’s a small city with a surprisingly robust job market.

Let’s talk real purchasing power. The cost of living index sits at 92.5, about 7.5% below the national average. A $64,092 median household income here feels a lot more substantial than it would in, say, Denver. Take a one-bedroom apartment at $971 a month; that’s a manageable chunk of your paycheck. The COL-adjusted average salary bumps up to $74,305, showing your dollar stretches further than you might expect. Honestly, it’s a better value proposition than I initially figured.

Who thrives here? The economy leans heavily on healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation. You’ve got big regional players like the Methodist Health System and the Lozier Corporation anchoring things, plus the proximity to Omaha’s finance and tech scene offers crossover opportunities. The education numbers—only 21.7% with a bachelor’s or higher—tell you this is a place where skilled trades and experience often trump a degree on the wall.

But there’s a catch. While wages are solid for the region, they aren’t exploding. The top-paying jobs are in marketing, pharmacy, and software development, but the median income suggests a lot of folks are earning less. This city works best for people in skilled trades, healthcare support, or those who can land one of those top-tier roles. It’s less ideal if you’re in a low-wage service job or looking for major salary growth.

The data below breaks down the top-paying roles and what you can actually expect to earn.