Baker salary in Iowa
Bakers in Iowa earn a median of $37,210 a year ($17.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,610 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $37,160. Iowa ranks 20th of 51 states for bakers pay. There are 1.4 bakers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,180, close to the median.
Pay range for bakers in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,920 | $11.02 |
| 25th percentile | $28,920 | $13.90 |
| Median | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| 75th percentile | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Average (mean) | $37,180 | $17.87 |
Half of bakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,100.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,550.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,431.15 |
| Weekly | $715.58 |
| Hourly | $17.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Baker salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $41,160 | 110 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $37,680 | 700 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $37,390 | 130 |
| Iowa City, IA | $37,140 | 150 |
| Ames, IA | $36,520 | 90 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $36,430 | 570 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $34,210 | 250 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $30,460 | 130 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $29,870 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for bakers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $46,710 |
| Washington | $46,140 |
| District of Columbia | $44,040 |
| California | $43,120 |
| Colorado | $40,650 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 |
| Vermont | $39,980 |
| Alaska | $39,710 |
| Nevada | $39,540 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $43,820 | $21.07 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,300 | $23.22 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $43,190 | $20.76 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,900 | $23.03 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,920 | $23.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,740 | $24.40 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,300 | $25.15 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,910 | $23.51 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Iowa?
The median salary for bakers in Iowa is $37,210 a year, or $17.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bakers make in Iowa?
The top 10% of bakers in Iowa earn at least $49,610 a year. The top 25% earn $42,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for bakers in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,920 a year, and a quarter of bakers earn $28,920 or less.
How many bakers work in Iowa?
About 2,150 bakers are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.