Helpers--Production Workers pay in Iowa
$45,840avg. a year
$22.04 an hour · 2,070 employed
Helpers--Production Workers in Iowa earn an average of $45,840 a year. That is $4,720 (11%) more than the U.S. average of $41,120. The best-paying metro area is Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA at $48,440.
$45,560Median pay
$22.04Average hourly
+30%Avg. pay since 2020
#10Of 49 states
Top-paying Iowa metro areas
Average pay for helpers--production workers by metro area. Swipe to see all 7.
1200 jobs
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
$48,440
$23.29 an hour
250 jobs
Cedar Rapids, IA
$47,480
$22.83 an hour
3110 jobs
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
$46,380
$22.30 an hour
4420 jobs
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
$45,780
$22.01 an hour
5180 jobs
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
$45,590
$21.92 an hour
650 jobs
Ames, IA
$41,020
$19.72 an hour
7350 jobs
Omaha, NE-IA
$38,330
$18.43 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Helpers--Production Workers pay in Iowa, charted
Pay over time
Iowa, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Iowa helpers--production workers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Iowa highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $40k$40k–$42k$42k–$45k$45k+Iowa
Iowa vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $41,120 | $19.77 |
| Iowa | $45,840 | $22.04 |
| Wisconsin | $45,150 | $21.71 |
| Illinois | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| Minnesota | $44,510 | $21.40 |
| Missouri | $42,900 | $20.62 |
| Nebraska | $41,850 | $20.12 |
Related jobs in Iowa
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$53,950
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$48,340
- Production Workers, All Other$44,510
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$53,230
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,360
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,430
Average pay, Iowa, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do helpers--production workers make in Iowa?
The average is $45,840 a year, and the median is $45,560. That is $4,720 (11%) more than the U.S. average of $41,120.
What is the hourly wage in Iowa?
$22.04 an hour on average; the median is $21.91.
Where in Iowa do they earn the most?
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($48,440), followed by Cedar Rapids, IA ($47,480). The lowest average among 7 metro areas with data is Omaha, NE-IA ($38,330).
How does Iowa rank?
Iowa ranks #10 of 49 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 51-9198. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national helpers--production workers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.