Skilled Wages

Highest-paying and most in-demand trades in Iowa

28 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states, the union scale and the state's own projection of which trades are growing.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025

Every trade in Iowa, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrElevator mechanic: $55.43 (cost-of-living adjusted $63.13)Elevator mechanic$55.43Lineman: $48.17 (cost-of-living adjusted $54.86)Lineman$48.17Construction manager: $47.73 (cost-of-living adjusted $54.36)Construction manager$47.73Boilermaker: $39.65 (cost-of-living adjusted $45.16)Boilermaker$39.65Construction supervisor: $37.75 (cost-of-living adjusted $43.00)Construction supervisor$37.75Ironworker: $37.21 (cost-of-living adjusted $42.38)Ironworker$37.21Wind turbine technician: $36.00 (cost-of-living adjusted $41.00)Wind turbine technician$36.00Brickmason: $33.38 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.02)Brickmason$33.38Crane operator: $32.50 (cost-of-living adjusted $37.02)Crane operator$32.50Sheet metal worker: $31.95 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.39)Sheet metal worker$31.95Plumber: $30.72 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.99)Plumber$30.72Millwright: $29.91 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.07)Millwright$29.91Electrician: $29.26 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.33)Electrician$29.26HVAC technician: $29.17 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.22)HVAC technician$29.17Heavy equipment operator: $29.01 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.04)Heavy equipment operator$29.01Diesel mechanic: $28.69 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.68)Diesel mechanic$28.69Cement mason: $27.99 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.88)Cement mason$27.99Carpenter: $27.75 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.61)Carpenter$27.75Machinist: $27.66 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.50)Machinist$27.66Glazier: $27.56 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.39)Glazier$27.56Solar installer: $27.28 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.07)Solar installer$27.28Insulation worker: $26.84 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.57)Insulation worker$26.84Welder: $26.49 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.17)Welder$26.49Tile setter: $26.13 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.76)Tile setter$26.13Drywall installer: $24.53 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.94)Drywall installer$24.53Painter: $23.90 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.22)Painter$23.90Roofer: $23.39 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.64)Roofer$23.39Construction laborer: $23.31 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.55)Construction laborer$23.31
Median hourly wage by trade in Iowa, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Elevator mechanic$55.43$115,300$61.619018th of 37-4.3%5% above
2Lineman$48.17$100,200$52.871,39026th of 51+12.2%5% above
3Construction manager$47.73$99,280$80.413,07046th of 51+8.3%14% below
4Boilermaker$39.65$82,470$42.445016th of 37-16.9%8% above
5Construction supervisor$37.75$78,510$50.949,66029th of 51+2.2%2% below
6Ironworker$37.21$77,400$39.06—14th of 50+4.3%23% above
7Wind turbine technician$36.00$74,880$48.289006th of 25+13.8%17% above
8Brickmason$33.38$69,440$37.9729016th of 50+20.1%12% above
9Crane operator$32.50$67,600$40.2165024th of 50+10.6%1% below
10Sheet metal worker$31.95$66,460$43.971,65015th of 50+2.1%8% above
11Plumber$30.72$63,890$46.875,73026th of 51+0.3%about the same as
12Millwright$29.91$62,220$38.3269033rd of 48-5.0%5% below
13Electrician$29.26$60,860$43.0210,31040th of 51-14.5%4% below
14HVAC technician$29.17$60,680$41.483,84027th of 51-6.6%1% below
15Heavy equipment operator$29.01$60,330$42.055,53030th of 51-0.8%1% above
16Diesel mechanic$28.69$59,680$38.504,14033rd of 51+13.1%3% below
17Cement mason$27.99$58,220$35.672,11026th of 51+20.9%2% above
18Carpenter$27.75$57,710$36.805,77031st of 51+8.9%5% below
19Machinist$27.66$57,540$34.212,88036th of 51+15.7%2% below
20Glazier$27.56$57,330$34.5743025th of 50-0.7%about the same as
21Solar installer$27.28$56,740$34.8318011th of 32—7% above
22Insulation worker$26.84$55,820$36.1446010th of 48—14% above
23Welder$26.49$55,090$31.379,27028th of 51+13.8%3% above
24Tile setter$26.13$54,350$37.2424021st of 47+12.2%2% below
25Drywall installer$24.53$51,030$32.5329027th of 49+1.0%13% below
26Painter$23.90$49,710$32.221,77024th of 51+4.0%1% above
27Roofer$23.39$48,660$31.2693033rd of 51+7.4%12% below
28Construction laborer$23.31$48,490$33.1213,78025th of 51+10.2%3% above

Most in-demand trades in Iowa

By the Iowa labor market agency's 2024–2034 projections, the fastest-growing trades are wind turbine technicians (+66.1%), construction managers (+12.5%), electricians (+12.1%). The most openings a year, counting replacements as well as growth, come from construction laborers (1,150 a year), welders (980 a year), electricians (860 a year). The largest specialty-contractor group in the state is building equipment contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), with 31,690 jobs (2025 annual average, QCEW).

TradeProjected change 2024–2034Openings a yearJobs in 2024Median $/hr
Wind turbine technician+66.1%140710$36.00
Construction manager+12.5%1902,100$47.73
Electrician+12.1%8608,420$29.26
Tile setter+12.1%20300$26.13
HVAC technician+11.2%3703,710$29.17
Construction laborer+10.5%1,15012,370$23.31
Elevator mechanic+8.1%20170$55.43
Construction supervisor+8.1%6607,870$37.75
Roofer+7.8%1201,510$23.39
Welder+7.7%9809,100$26.49
Ironworker+7.5%60640$37.21
Insulation worker+7.3%30320$26.84

Source: Iowa long-term occupational projections via Projections Central; state counts include the self-employed. Projections, not guarantees; see each trade page for the national BLS outlook.

Construction jobs in Iowa

92.4kConstruction jobs2026-09
+4.1%Change over 12 months
+10.7%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202592kSep 2026
Construction employment in Iowa, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in Iowa

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Iowa, 17 of 99 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $66.39/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in Iowa

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in Iowa?

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $55.43 an hour in May 2025, followed by linemen ($48.17) and construction managers ($47.73).

Which trades are in highest demand in Iowa?

By projected growth between 2024 and 2034, wind turbine technicians (+66.1%), construction managers (+12.5%), electricians (+12.1%). By openings a year, construction laborers (1,150 a year), welders (980 a year), electricians (860 a year). The figures come from Iowa's labor market agency via Projections Central and count replacement openings as well as new jobs.

How does Iowa compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 28 trades listed, 16 pay above the national median in Iowa and 12 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 87.8% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Iowa.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-09.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities.
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).