Labor Relations Specialists in Iowa
Thinking about a career as a Labor Relations Specialists in Iowa? Here’s what you need to know. Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints. Excludes equal employment opportunity (EEO) officers, who are included in “Compliance Officers” (13-1041).
What do Labor Relations Specialists Make in Iowa?
The labor relations specialists working in Iowa, the median annual wage is $78,260 per year (or roughly $37.62/hour).Pay can range from $50,710 at the 10th percentile to $131,230 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,710 | $24.38 |
| 25th percentile | $64,440 | $30.98 |
| Median (50th) | $78,260 | $37.62 |
| 75th percentile | $92,020 | $44.24 |
| 90th percentile | $131,230 | $63.09 |
The job concentration index in Iowa relative to the national average — is 0.89, meaning fewer labor relations specialists per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, labor relations specialists earn a median of $129,587 per year ($62.30/hour), below the Iowa median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 210,263 labor relations specialists nationwide. In Iowa alone, approximately 590 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 510 labor relations specialists.
Top Iowa Metros for Labor Relations Specialists
These are the Iowa metros with the most labor relations specialists in Iowa.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 170 | $78,460 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 170 | $81,020 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 70 | $79,160 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 60 | $77,750 |
| Dubuque, IA | 40 | $77,000 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 40 | $78,220 |
Top States for Labor Relations Specialists Employment
These states have the highest employment of labor relations specialists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 9,170 |
| New York | 6,990 |
| Ohio | 4,080 |
| Illinois | 3,720 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | 2,920 |
| Washington | 2,780 |
| Indiana | 2,630 |
| Texas | 2,570 |
| Michigan | 2,420 |
| Wisconsin | 2,010 |
| Florida | 1,840 |
| Massachusetts | 1,680 |
| Minnesota | 1,660 |
| Connecticut | 1,150 |
| Virginia | 1,080 |
| Missouri | 1,050 |
| Oregon | 1,010 |
| Georgia | 950 |
| Maryland | 870 |
Highest-Paying States for Labor Relations Specialists
These states pay the most for labor relations specialists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $124,930 |
| Alaska | $124,770 |
| New Jersey | $118,940 |
| Washington | $108,110 |
| New Hampshire | $106,070 |
| North Dakota | $105,590 |
| California | $105,320 |
| Oregon | $103,210 |
| Hawaii | $102,070 |
| New Mexico | $100,420 |
Skills
The most important labor relations specialists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for labor relations specialists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Labor Relations Specialists typically:
- Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
- Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
- Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
- Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
- Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
- Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify.
- Mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences.
- Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment.
- Recommend collective bargaining strategies, goals, or objectives.
- Monitor company or workforce adherence to labor agreements.
- Call or meet with union, company, government, or other interested parties to discuss labor relations matters, such as contract negotiations or grievances.
- Assess risk levels associated with collective bargaining strategies.
Work Activities
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Processing Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Working with Computers
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Kubernetes, Microsoft Access In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Human Resource Management
- Dispute Resolution
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like labor relations specialists include:
- Compensation and Benefits Managers
- Human Resources Managers
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Compliance Managers
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
- Human Resources Specialists
Also Known As
Appeals and Grievances Specialist, Arbitration Specialist, Business Agent, Business Representative, Collective Bargaining Specialist, Conciliator, Contract Negotiator, Employee Engagement Specialist, Employee Experience Specialist, Employee Relations Business Partner (ERBP), Employee Relations Consultant, Employee Relations Coordinator, Employee Relations Generalist, Employee Relations Investigator, Employee Relations Partner.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 13-1075.00