Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
Iowa employs 132,780 Production professionals across 87 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Production industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Production in Iowa, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Production industry in Iowa, sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Click any job title for state-specific salary details.
| # | Job Title | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $102,980 | $85,020 | N/A | $49/hr |
| 2 | Power Plant Operators | $100,500 | $93,580 | 470 | $48/hr |
| 3 | Gas Plant Operators | $92,970 | $86,690 | 480 | $44/hr |
| 4 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $90,160 | $87,020 | 70 | $43/hr |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,750 | $74,190 | 10,130 | $35/hr |
| 6 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $72,670 | $65,600 | 660 | $34/hr |
| 7 | Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $70,910 | $59,160 | 440 | $34/hr |
| 8 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $67,450 | $67,030 | 190 | $32/hr |
| 9 | Tool and Die Makers | $65,000 | $65,780 | 760 | $31/hr |
| 10 | Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | $63,420 | $66,650 | 90 | $30/hr |
| 11 | Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $62,590 | $57,770 | 1,420 | $30/hr |
| 12 | Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | $62,520 | $63,740 | 290 | $30/hr |
| 13 | Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | $61,550 | $61,710 | 40 | $29/hr |
| 14 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,990 | $60,790 | 2,370 | $29/hr |
| 15 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | $60,440 | $58,320 | 490 | $29/hr |
| 16 | Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $59,780 | $59,980 | 260 | $28/hr |
| 17 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | $57,780 | $59,310 | 640 | $27/hr |
| 18 | Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,550 | $60,430 | 2,010 | $27/hr |
| 19 | Machinists | $57,540 | $56,960 | 2,880 | $27/hr |
| 20 | Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | $57,030 | $55,210 | 330 | $27/hr |
| 21 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,090 | $55,580 | 9,270 | $26/hr |
| 22 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | $52,300 | $53,230 | 4,750 | $25/hr |
| 23 | Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,220 | $55,970 | 1,090 | $25/hr |
| 24 | Medical Appliance Technicians | $51,790 | $52,300 | 80 | $24/hr |
| 25 | Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | $51,760 | $56,900 | 60 | $24/hr |
| 26 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,740 | $52,530 | 1,310 | $24/hr |
| 27 | Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,600 | $53,530 | 140 | $24/hr |
| 28 | Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,570 | $54,450 | 2,310 | $24/hr |
| 29 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | $51,360 | $53,360 | 650 | $24/hr |
| 30 | Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $51,200 | $51,530 | 1,100 | $24/hr |
| 31 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,740 | $53,950 | 7,230 | $24/hr |
| 32 | Tire Builders | $50,600 | $52,400 | 510 | $24/hr |
| 33 | Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | $50,450 | $50,550 | 40 | $24/hr |
| 34 | Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,370 | $53,880 | 180 | $24/hr |
| 35 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | $50,280 | $53,830 | 160 | $24/hr |
| 36 | Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,760 | $49,640 | 120 | $23/hr |
| 37 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,600 | $52,110 | 920 | $23/hr |
| 38 | Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,340 | $50,910 | 500 | $23/hr |
| 39 | Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,330 | $51,360 | 3,220 | $23/hr |
| 40 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | $49,220 | $53,560 | 170 | $23/hr |
| 41 | Foundry Mold and Coremakers | $49,060 | $50,270 | 480 | $23/hr |
| 42 | Pourers and Casters, Metal | $49,010 | $51,340 | 80 | $23/hr |
| 43 | Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,920 | $48,210 | 19,540 | $23/hr |
| 44 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,910 | $49,140 | 4,460 | $23/hr |
| 45 | Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | $48,580 | $48,570 | N/A | $23/hr |
| 46 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $48,400 | $50,450 | 100 | $23/hr |
| 47 | Food Batchmakers | $48,300 | $50,620 | 4,160 | $23/hr |
| 48 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,240 | $47,960 | 2,030 | $23/hr |
| 49 | Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $48,090 | $46,340 | 240 | $23/hr |
| 50 | Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,960 | $49,070 | 660 | $23/hr |
| 51 | Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,900 | $48,370 | 850 | $23/hr |
| 52 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | $47,770 | $48,400 | 210 | $22/hr |
| 53 | Dental Laboratory Technicians | $47,520 | $52,700 | 380 | $22/hr |
| 54 | Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | $47,280 | $47,430 | N/A | $22/hr |
| 55 | Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,240 | $49,300 | 450 | $22/hr |
| 56 | Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $47,110 | $48,760 | 1,010 | $22/hr |
| 57 | Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,010 | $48,280 | N/A | $22/hr |
| 58 | Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $46,970 | $49,070 | 430 | $22/hr |
| 59 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | $46,670 | $47,700 | 100 | $22/hr |
| 60 | Furniture Finishers | $46,530 | $49,640 | 70 | $22/hr |
| 61 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,380 | $49,130 | 890 | $22/hr |
| 62 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,220 | $46,250 | 340 | $22/hr |
| 63 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,110 | $54,610 | 1,010 | $22/hr |
| 64 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | $46,040 | $50,160 | 60 | $22/hr |
| 65 | Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | $45,910 | $48,150 | 100 | $22/hr |
| 66 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $48,340 | 6,990 | $21/hr |
| 67 | Helpers--Production Workers | $45,560 | $45,840 | 2,070 | $21/hr |
| 68 | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,220 | $47,170 | 3,670 | $21/hr |
| 69 | Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $44,880 | $47,270 | 4,000 | $21/hr |
| 70 | Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,860 | $48,090 | 110 | $21/hr |
| 71 | Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $43,820 | $42,130 | 4,220 | $21/hr |
| 72 | Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | $43,310 | $41,280 | 90 | $20/hr |
| 73 | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $43,190 | $42,560 | 3,970 | $20/hr |
| 74 | Etchers and Engravers | $42,950 | $45,280 | 70 | $20/hr |
| 75 | Upholsterers | $42,610 | $43,020 | 80 | $20/hr |
| 76 | Sewers, Hand | $42,290 | $41,750 | 40 | $20/hr |
| 77 | Printing Press Operators | $40,790 | $42,860 | 2,070 | $19/hr |
| 78 | Print Binding and Finishing Workers | $38,790 | $42,410 | 330 | $18/hr |
| 79 | Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,750 | $38,450 | 4,480 | $18/hr |
| 80 | Bakers | $37,210 | $37,180 | 2,150 | $17/hr |
| 81 | Sewing Machine Operators | $35,870 | $36,570 | 590 | $17/hr |
| 82 | Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,050 | $34,170 | 1,900 | $16/hr |
| 83 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | $33,910 | $37,240 | 100 | $16/hr |
| 84 | Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $33,730 | $36,410 | 70 | $16/hr |
| 85 | Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $32,990 | $30,300 | 100 | $15/hr |
| 86 | Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $31,680 | $34,280 | 130 | $15/hr |
| 87 | Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $30,060 | $35,690 | 70 | $14/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across Iowa:
Iowa has 87 Production occupations with 132,780 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Production occupation in Iowa is Power Distributors and Dispatchers with a median salary of $102,980/year.
The average median salary across 87 Production occupations in Iowa is $51,462/year.
Salaries in Production in Iowa range from $21,890 (entry-level) to $128,490 (senior) across all occupations.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes organize jobs into groups. Production occupations use SOC prefix 51. Data comes from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Salary figures represent May 2025 compensation for occupations classified under SOC code 51* in Iowa. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources