SOC 51-5111 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Prepress Technicians and Workers — Iowa
Iowa · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Prepress Technicians and Workers in Iowa is $47,770 per year, close to the national median of $48,690 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Prepress Technicians and Workers in Iowa is $47,770 per year, close to the national median of $48,690 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $40,030 and $55,560. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $31,210 and the ninetieth at $63,280.
The area has 210 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.90 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Iowa ranks number 26th out of 45 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Ames records the highest median at $54,460. Of the 711 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 492nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,210 | −35.9% |
| 25th | $40,030 | −17.8% |
| Median (50th) | $47,770 | −1.9% |
| 75th | $55,560 | +14.1% |
| 90th | $63,280 | +30.0% |
| Mean | $48,400 | −0.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ames | $54,460 | 40 | |
| 2 | Des Moines | $54,000 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $47,770 goes as far as $54,408 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,770as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$54,408US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,770 a year, 1.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,210 to $63,280 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 210 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 26th of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Ames, at $54,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Prepress Technicians and Workers in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $47,770, or $22.97 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 $48,690, so pay in Iowa is 1.9% 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 earns more than $63,280 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,210 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 Ames, at $54,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 210 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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