SOC 51-4023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Iowa
Iowa
The median wage for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Iowa is $72,670 per year, well above the national median of $50,140.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Iowa is $72,670 per year, well above the national median of $50,140. The gap of 44.9% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $48,580 at the tenth percentile to more than $72,670 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $58,700 to $72,670.
Employment stands at 660, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 39 states with published data for this occupation, Iowa ranks 1st by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 223rd of 711 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,580 | −3.1% |
| 25th | $58,700 | +17.1% |
| Median (50th) | $72,670 | +44.9% |
| 75th | $72,670 | +44.9% |
| 90th | $72,670 | +44.9% |
| Mean | $65,600 | +30.8% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $72,670 goes as far as $82,768 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 65.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$72,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$82,768US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $72,670 a year, 44.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,580 to $72,670 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 660 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 39 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $72,670, or $34.94 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 $50,140, so pay in Iowa is 44.9% 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 $72,670 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,580 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 660 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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