SOC 51-9111 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders — Iowa City
Iowa City, IA · 7 metro areas compared
In Iowa City, IA the median wage is $38,550.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Iowa City, IA the median wage is $38,550. That is 10.8% lower than the national median of $43,220. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $36,450 and $50,320. The lowest tenth earn under $32,090, while the highest tenth earn more than $59,170.
The area has 110 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.47 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Cedar Rapids leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $67,700. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 247th of 296 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,090 | −25.8% |
| 25th | $36,450 | −15.7% |
| Median (50th) | $38,550 | −10.8% |
| 75th | $50,320 | +16.4% |
| 90th | $59,170 | +36.9% |
| Mean | $43,340 | +0.3% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids | $67,700 | 1,080 | |
| 2 | Des Moines | $51,100 | 850 | |
| 3 | Ames | $48,250 | 280 | |
| 4 | Dubuque | $47,640 | 160 | |
| 5 | Sioux City | $43,700 | 810 | |
| 6 | Waterloo | $43,040 | 210 | |
| 7 | Davenport | $40,600 | 550 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa City run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $38,550 goes as far as $43,907 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,907US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,550 a year, 10.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,090 to $59,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Cedar Rapids, at $67,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in Iowa City, IA?
The median annual wage is $38,550, or $18.54 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 $43,220, so pay in Iowa City, IA is 10.8% lower. 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 City, IA earns more than $59,170 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,090 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 $67,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 110 jobs in this occupation in Iowa City, 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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