Millwright salary in Iowa
Median $29.91 an hour for 690 millwrights, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Millwright pay in Iowa: the full range
Iowa ranks 33rd of 48 states for median millwright pay, and 19th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.07). 690 millwrights work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $22.62 – $26.91 | $47,050 – $55,980 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $26.91 – $36.20 | $55,980 – $75,290 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $36.20 – $38.32 | $75,290 – $79,710 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Millwright pay by metro in Iowa
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $23.22 | $30.74 | $33.52 | $37.47 | 100 | 3% above |
| Omaha | $22.84 | $30.27 | $32.94 | $37.91 | 230 | 1% above |
| Sioux City | $23.66 | $30.03 | $34.72 | $36.90 | 40 | about the same as |
| Davenport | $18.88 | $29.45 | $33.05 | $40.03 | 80 | 2% below |
| Cedar Rapids | $24.28 | $29.28 | $32.90 | $37.61 | 60 | 2% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Millwright wages in Iowa over time
Table
| Year | Iowa $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $18.33 | $35.42 | $18.76 | 990 |
| 2000 | $18.33 | $34.27 | $19.33 | 950 |
| 2001 | $17.18 | $31.23 | $20.18 | 700 |
| 2002 | $19.94 | $35.68 | $20.19 | — |
| 2003 | $20.28 | $35.48 | $20.38 | — |
| 2004 | $19.63 | $33.46 | $21.02 | 790 |
| 2005 | $18.23 | $30.05 | $21.53 | 670 |
| 2006 | $19.93 | $31.83 | $21.94 | 610 |
| 2007 | $18.66 | $28.97 | $22.16 | 640 |
| 2008 | $19.16 | $28.65 | $22.87 | 1,140 |
| 2009 | $19.54 | $29.32 | $23.14 | 1,090 |
| 2010 | $20.53 | $30.31 | $23.25 | 840 |
| 2011 | $21.48 | $30.74 | $23.69 | 860 |
| 2012 | $21.43 | $30.05 | $23.80 | 930 |
| 2013 | $20.93 | $28.92 | $24.05 | 1,060 |
| 2014 | $22.21 | $30.20 | $24.26 | 1,310 |
| 2015 | $23.19 | $31.50 | $24.71 | 1,510 |
| 2016 | $25.94 | $34.80 | $25.21 | 1,150 |
| 2017 | $25.93 | $34.06 | $25.95 | 1,050 |
| 2018 | $24.96 | $32.00 | $26.47 | 1,280 |
| 2019 | $25.14 | $31.66 | $26.71 | 1,310 |
| 2020 | $24.87 | $30.94 | $27.53 | 1,220 |
| 2021 | $28.83 | $34.25 | $29.00 | 980 |
| 2022 | $28.16 | $30.98 | $29.29 | 760 |
| 2023 | $29.42 | $31.08 | $30.28 | 600 |
| 2024 | $30.44 | $31.24 | $31.33 | 920 |
| 2025 | $29.91 | $29.91 | $31.59 | 690 |
In today's dollars, the median millwright wage in Iowa changed by -5.0% over the last ten years of data and by -5.5% since 2019.
Are there more millwright jobs in Iowa?
BLS counted 690 millwrights in Iowa in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 19%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for millwrights in Iowa
Iowa's labor market agency projects the number of millwrights in the state to change by +3.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 900 to 930, with about 80 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +0.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 690 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Iowa labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for millwrights in Iowa
On federally funded construction in Iowa, contractors must pay millwrights at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 5 of the 26 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $65.65 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $63.98). The market median for the state is $29.91.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscatine | Union CARP2158-002 2025-06-01 | $39.31 | $29.89 | $69.20 | IA20260050 |
| Benton | Union CARP2158-004 2025-06-01 | $36.70 | $28.95 | $65.65 | IA20260078 |
| Dubuque | Union CARP2158-004 2025-06-01 | $36.70 | $28.95 | $65.65 | IA20260065 |
| Jones | Union CARP2158-004 2025-06-01 | $36.70 | $28.95 | $65.65 | IA20260078 |
| Linn | Union CARP2158-004 2025-06-01 | $36.70 | $28.95 | $65.65 | IA20260069 |
| Appanoose | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260032 |
| Cedar | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260036 |
| Clinton | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260038 |
| Davis | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260040 |
| Des Moines | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260041 |
| Henry | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260061 |
| Iowa | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260045 |
| Jackson | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260061 |
| Jasper | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260046 |
| Jefferson | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260061 |
| Keokuk | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260061 |
| Lee | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260047 |
| Louisa | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260061 |
| Mahaska | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260061 |
| Marion | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260048 |
| Marshall | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260049 |
| Monroe | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260061 |
| Poweshiek | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260052 |
| Tama | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260061 |
| Van Buren | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260061 |
| Wapello | uavg UAVGIA0001 2025-01-01 | $35.93 | $28.05 | $63.98 | IA20260055 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Iowa prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Iowa?
Keep comparing
Millwright pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Iowa
More on Iowa
Questions this page answers
How much do millwrights make in Iowa?
The median millwright in Iowa earned $29.91 an hour ($62,220 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $31.59. The middle half earn $26.91–$36.20; the top 10% earn more than $38.32.
Where does Iowa rank for millwright pay?
Iowa ranks 33rd of 48 states for millwright pay, with a median of $29.91 an hour, and 19th after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).
What is the union millwright rate in Iowa?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for millwrights in 5 counties, with a typical package of $65.65 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many millwrights work in Iowa?
BLS counted 690 millwrights in Iowa in May 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.71; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is millwright work growing in Iowa?
Iowa's labor market agency projects +3.3% growth for millwrights between 2024 and 2034, from 900 to 930 jobs.
How many millwright openings a year are there in Iowa?
Iowa projects about 80 openings a year for millwrights over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 3,200 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Iowa and metro areas, SOC 49-9044. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Iowa labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.