Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Iowa
Plant and System Operators, All Other in Iowa earn a median of $75,800 a year ($36.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,880 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $62,470. Iowa ranks 9th of 44 states for plant and system operators, all other pay. There are 0.03 plant and system operators, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.34). The average (mean) salary is $78,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for plant and system operators, all other in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,510 | $28.61 |
| 25th percentile | $69,770 | $33.55 |
| Median | $75,800 | $36.44 |
| 75th percentile | $80,450 | $38.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,880 | $50.43 |
| Average (mean) | $78,080 | $37.54 |
Half of plant and system operators, 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 | $6,316.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,158.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,915.38 |
| Weekly | $1,457.69 |
| Hourly | $36.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for plant and system operators, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $120,660 |
| Washington | $88,730 |
| Minnesota | $88,290 |
| Maryland | $81,890 |
| Montana | $81,340 |
| Nevada | $80,000 |
| California | $78,020 |
| Illinois | $77,780 |
| Iowa | $75,800 |
| New York | $74,700 |
See Plant and System Operators, All Other pay in every state.
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,990 | $29.32 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $60,440 | $29.06 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $92,970 | $44.70 |
| Power Plant Operator | $100,500 | $48.32 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $67,450 | $32.43 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $90,160 | $43.34 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| 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 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,300 | $25.15 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8099. 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 plant and system operators, all other make in Iowa?
The median salary for plant and system operators, all other in Iowa is $75,800 a year, or $36.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid plant and system operators, all other make in Iowa?
The top 10% of plant and system operators, all other in Iowa earn at least $104,880 a year. The top 25% earn $80,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for plant and system operators, all other in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,510 a year, and a quarter of plant and system operators, all other earn $69,770 or less.
How many plant and system operators, all other work in Iowa?
About 50 plant and system operators, all other are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.