SOC 51-9193 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders — Iowa
Iowa
At $62,520 a year, the median wage for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders in Iowa sits 51.3% above the national figure of $41,330.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $62,520 a year, the median wage for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders in Iowa sits 51.3% above the national figure of $41,330. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $42,510 and $82,790. The lowest tenth earn under $41,720, while the highest tenth earn more than $82,790.
Employment stands at 290, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Iowa ranks number 2nd out of 34 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 711 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 293rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,720 | +0.9% |
| 25th | $42,510 | +2.9% |
| Median (50th) | $62,520 | +51.3% |
| 75th | $82,790 | +100.3% |
| 90th | $82,790 | +100.3% |
| Mean | $63,740 | +54.2% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $62,520 goes as far as $71,207 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 72.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,520as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$71,207US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,520 a year, 51.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $41,720 to $82,790 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 290 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 34 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $62,520, or $30.06 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $41,330, so pay in Iowa is 51.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Iowa earns more than $82,790 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $41,720 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 290 jobs in this occupation in Iowa. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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