Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in Iowa
Food Processing Workers, All Other in Iowa earn a median of $41,740 a year ($20.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,140 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $39,680. Iowa ranks 16th of 46 states for food processing workers, all other pay. There are 3.3 food processing workers, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 8.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food processing workers, all other in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| 25th percentile | $40,320 | $19.38 |
| Median | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| 75th percentile | $42,160 | $20.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,140 | $20.74 |
| Average (mean) | $41,820 | $20.11 |
Half of food processing workers, all other 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 | $3,478.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,739.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,605.38 |
| Weekly | $802.69 |
| Hourly | $20.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $46,350 | 1,710 |
| Ames, IA | $43,520 | 50 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $42,960 | 130 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $42,600 | 900 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $41,070 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for food processing workers, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $46,930 |
| Idaho | $46,820 |
| Kansas | $46,060 |
| New Hampshire | $45,410 |
| Illinois | $45,340 |
| Arizona | $45,330 |
| North Dakota | $45,120 |
| Missouri | $44,050 |
| Washington | $43,980 |
| Vermont | $43,300 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Baker | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| 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 51-3099. 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 food processing workers, all other make in Iowa?
The median salary for food processing workers, all other in Iowa is $41,740 a year, or $20.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food processing workers, all other make in Iowa?
The top 10% of food processing workers, all other in Iowa earn at least $43,140 a year. The top 25% earn $42,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for food processing workers, all other in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,230 a year, and a quarter of food processing workers, all other earn $40,320 or less.
How many food processing workers, all other work in Iowa?
About 5,210 food processing workers, all other are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.