Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Food Processing Workers, All Other in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $42,960 a year ($20.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,940 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $39,680. Pay here is 3% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $41,740. There are 0.32 food processing workers, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $43,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food processing workers, all other in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,100 | $18.80 |
| 25th percentile | $42,490 | $20.43 |
| Median | $42,960 | $20.66 |
| 75th percentile | $43,070 | $20.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| Average (mean) | $43,480 | $20.91 |
Half of food processing workers, all other 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 | $3,580 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,790 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,652.31 |
| Weekly | $826.15 |
| Hourly | $20.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,960 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 Processing Workers, All Other salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $46,350 | 1,710 |
| Ames, IA | $43,520 | 50 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $42,600 | 900 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $41,070 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for food processing workers, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $46,930 |
| Idaho | $46,820 |
| Kansas | $46,060 |
| New Hampshire | $45,410 |
| Illinois | $45,340 |
| Arizona | $45,330 |
| North Dakota | $45,120 |
| Missouri | $44,050 |
| Washington | $43,980 |
| Vermont | $43,300 |
See Food Processing Workers, All Other pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| Baker | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Food Batchmaker | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $45,750 | $21.99 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $49,780 | $23.93 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $71,150 | $34.21 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,850 | $24.45 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,980 | $28.84 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,660 | $19.55 |
| Printing Press Operator | $43,450 | $20.89 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,700 | $23.42 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3099. 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 processing workers, all other make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for food processing workers, all other in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $42,960 a year, or $20.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food processing workers, all other make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of food processing workers, all other in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $46,940 a year. The top 25% earn $43,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for food processing workers, all other in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,100 a year, and a quarter of food processing workers, all other earn $42,490 or less.
How many food processing workers, all other work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 130 food processing workers, all other are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.