Firm counts, employment, and wages for 40 small-business-typical industries reported in Iowa by the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Click any industry for a national comparison.
Sorted by establishment count. Location quotient (LQ) compares Iowa's industry concentration to the national average — LQ > 1 means denser than national; LQ < 1 means thinner.
| Industry | Firms | Employment | Avg Pay | LQ | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 2,274 | 43,107 | $22,281 | 0.93 | +0.7% |
| Quick-service restaurants | 2,175 | 41,910 | $19,233 | 0.88 | +2.0% |
| Gas stations with convenience stores | 1,566 | 21,830 | $25,532 | 1.67 | -1.6% |
| Offices of lawyers | 1,322 | 6,095 | $87,856 | 0.76 | -1.9% |
| Landscaping services | 1,233 | 7,189 | $42,977 | 1.08 | +1.9% |
| Plumbing, heating & AC contractors | 1,150 | 15,765 | $76,017 | 1.01 | -1.0% |
| General auto repair | 1,058 | 5,212 | $55,406 | 1.33 | +0.3% |
| Dental practices | 1,029 | 8,878 | $68,026 | 0.82 | -1.7% |
| Electrical contractors | 1,008 | 13,150 | $77,763 | 1.10 | +1.7% |
| Drinking places (bars) | 881 | 6,464 | $15,662 | 2.23 | -2.7% |
| Chiropractors | 827 | 2,557 | $38,223 | 2.26 | -1.4% |
| Child day care | 824 | 12,997 | $23,470 | 1.13 | -1.8% |
| Engineering services | 821 | 6,801 | $114,943 | 0.89 | +4.7% |
| Portfolio management & investment advice | 804 | 3,240 | $135,007 | 0.98 | +2.0% |
| Janitorial services | 766 | 10,578 | $31,547 | 0.99 | +3.0% |
| Other general-merchandise retailers | 741 | 0 | $0 | 1.25 | +5.4% |
| CPA offices | 704 | 5,172 | $88,129 | 1.20 | +1.7% |
| Beauty salons | 688 | 3,124 | $34,908 | 0.95 | -1.7% |
| Physical therapists | 653 | 4,953 | $53,257 | 1.36 | +1.7% |
| Other accounting services | 628 | 1,847 | $66,188 | 0.95 | +6.8% |
| Supermarkets & grocery | 617 | 33,734 | $25,388 | 1.13 | -0.2% |
| Veterinary services | 512 | 4,661 | $48,089 | 1.55 | +0.4% |
| Auto body & paint | 443 | 2,560 | $58,966 | 1.35 | -4.3% |
| Fitness & recreational sports centers | 386 | 5,634 | $14,161 | 0.93 | -2.5% |
| Optometrists | 331 | 2,072 | $49,905 | 1.67 | -0.3% |
| Roofing contractors | 307 | 2,051 | $66,412 | 1.05 | +3.4% |
| Pet care (except veterinary) | 282 | 2,280 | $22,663 | 1.12 | +6.8% |
| All other miscellaneous retailers | 250 | 1,057 | $44,139 | 0.81 | -3.1% |
| Other health practitioners | 235 | 802 | $67,985 | 0.65 | +15.8% |
| Motor-vehicle parts wholesale | 194 | 2,493 | $63,247 | 1.41 | -4.0% |
| Florists | 140 | 632 | $16,781 | 1.24 | -3.4% |
| Religious organizations | 101 | 551 | $41,994 | 0.42 | +13.5% |
| Book retailers & news dealers | 76 | 526 | $19,204 | 1.04 | +2.7% |
| Auto glass replacement | 71 | 285 | $48,722 | 1.07 | +4.4% |
| Drycleaning & laundry | 64 | 411 | $28,396 | 0.47 | -11.1% |
| Convenience retailers | 57 | 220 | $25,843 | 0.18 | +1.8% |
| Barber shops | 40 | 242 | $42,179 | 0.53 | -4.8% |
| Other similar organizations | 37 | 143 | $48,949 | 0.26 | -5.1% |
| All other auto repair & maintenance | 35 | 149 | $45,427 | 0.50 | +0.0% |
| Parking lots & garages | 25 | 242 | $30,253 | 0.34 | -19.4% |