Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Iowa
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Iowa earn a median of $47,900 a year ($23.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,020 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $41,590. Iowa ranks 4th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.55 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,410 | $20.87 |
| 25th percentile | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Median | $47,900 | $23.03 |
| 75th percentile | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,020 | $25.01 |
| Average (mean) | $48,370 | $23.26 |
Half of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,991.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,995.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,842.31 |
| Weekly | $921.15 |
| Hourly | $23.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,900 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $63,690 | 40 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $51,600 | 190 |
| Dubuque, IA | $50,140 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,460 | 100 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $48,420 | 260 |
Highest-paying states for food cooking machine operators and tenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $51,100 |
| Utah | $48,620 |
| Massachusetts | $47,960 |
| Iowa | $47,900 |
| Michigan | $47,260 |
| Minnesota | $47,250 |
| Colorado | $46,900 |
| Kansas | $45,850 |
| New York | $45,680 |
| Tennessee | $45,620 |
See Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in every state.
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $43,820 | $21.07 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,300 | $23.22 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $43,190 | $20.76 |
| Baker | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,920 | $23.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,740 | $24.40 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,300 | $25.15 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,910 | $23.51 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3093. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Iowa?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Iowa is $47,900 a year, or $23.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Iowa?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Iowa earn at least $52,020 a year. The top 25% earn $49,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,410 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $46,380 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Iowa?
About 850 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.