SOC 51-3093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders — Davenport
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Davenport, IA comes to $48,460 a year, ahead of the national median of $41,590 by 16.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Davenport, IA comes to $48,460 a year, ahead of the national median of $41,590 by 16.5%. Pay ranges from under $38,180 at the tenth percentile to more than $48,600 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $45,610 to $48,600.
The area has 100 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.76 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Cedar Rapids records the highest median at $63,690. Of the 431 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 271st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,180 | −8.2% |
| 25th | $45,610 | +9.7% |
| Median (50th) | $48,460 | +16.5% |
| 75th | $48,600 | +16.9% |
| 90th | $48,600 | +16.9% |
| Mean | $46,750 | +12.4% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids | $63,690 | 40 | |
| 2 | Sioux City | $51,600 | 190 | |
| 3 | Dubuque | $50,140 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Davenport run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $48,460 goes as far as $55,194 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 32.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,194US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,460 a year, 16.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,180 to $48,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 100 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Cedar Rapids, at $63,690.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Davenport, IA?
The median annual wage is $48,460, or $23.30 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 $41,590, so pay in Davenport, IA is 16.5% 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 Davenport, IA earns more than $48,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,180 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Cedar Rapids, at $63,690 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 100 jobs in this occupation in Davenport, IA. 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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