Machinist salary in Iowa
Median $27.66 an hour for 2,880 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Machinist pay in Iowa: the full range
Iowa ranks 36th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 7th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.50). 2,880 machinists work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.39 – $23.65 | $44,500 – $49,190 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.65 – $29.58 | $49,190 – $61,530 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.58 – $34.21 | $61,530 – $71,160 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in Iowa
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | $20.12 | $29.67 | $38.70 | 600 | 7% above |
| Ames | $25.54 | $28.94 | $35.61 | 60 | 5% above |
| Des Moines | $18.40 | $28.51 | $35.76 | 210 | 3% above |
| Dubuque | $22.99 | $28.31 | $31.92 | 180 | 2% above |
| Omaha | $19.23 | $28.14 | $39.04 | 240 | 2% above |
| Waterloo | $21.91 | $27.93 | $34.21 | 180 | 1% above |
| Sioux City | $18.19 | $27.09 | $30.36 | 80 | 2% below |
| Cedar Rapids | $20.43 | $26.93 | $36.05 | 180 | 3% below |
Machinist wages in Iowa over time
Table
| Year | Iowa $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.85 | $22.90 | $14.30 | 7,040 |
| 2000 | $12.59 | $23.54 | $14.78 | 6,290 |
| 2001 | $13.25 | $24.09 | $15.43 | 5,900 |
| 2002 | $13.74 | $24.59 | $15.66 | 6,250 |
| 2003 | $14.44 | $25.27 | $15.91 | 5,600 |
| 2004 | $15.32 | $26.11 | $16.33 | 5,030 |
| 2005 | $15.59 | $25.70 | $16.51 | 5,340 |
| 2006 | $15.94 | $25.46 | $16.71 | 5,200 |
| 2007 | $16.20 | $25.15 | $16.94 | 5,540 |
| 2008 | $16.62 | $24.85 | $17.41 | 6,510 |
| 2009 | $16.69 | $25.05 | $18.10 | 5,420 |
| 2010 | $16.87 | $24.91 | $18.52 | 4,900 |
| 2011 | $17.19 | $24.60 | $18.86 | 4,610 |
| 2012 | $17.50 | $24.54 | $18.99 | 4,800 |
| 2013 | $17.49 | $24.17 | $19.03 | 4,540 |
| 2014 | $17.68 | $24.04 | $19.22 | 4,080 |
| 2015 | $17.60 | $23.91 | $19.49 | 4,210 |
| 2016 | $18.25 | $24.48 | $20.05 | 4,150 |
| 2017 | $18.28 | $24.01 | $20.48 | 4,050 |
| 2018 | $18.78 | $24.08 | $20.97 | 4,300 |
| 2019 | $19.08 | $24.03 | $21.36 | 4,570 |
| 2020 | $20.27 | $25.21 | $22.04 | 4,360 |
| 2021 | $22.43 | $26.65 | $22.95 | 3,600 |
| 2022 | $23.04 | $25.35 | $23.32 | 3,160 |
| 2023 | $24.48 | $25.87 | $24.44 | 2,710 |
| 2024 | $25.67 | $26.35 | $27.00 | 3,010 |
| 2025 | $27.66 | $27.66 | $28.24 | 2,880 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Iowa changed by +15.7% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Iowa?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Iowa
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in Iowa?
The median machinist in Iowa earned $27.66 an hour ($57,540 a year) in May 2025, 2% below the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $23.65–$29.58; the top 10% earn more than $34.21.
Where does Iowa rank for machinist pay?
Iowa ranks 36th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $27.66 an hour, and 7th after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in Iowa?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Iowa counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in Iowa?
BLS counted 2,880 machinists in Iowa in May 2025, 1.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Iowa and metro areas, SOC 51-4041.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.