Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders salary in Iowa
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders in Iowa earn a median of $51,450 a year ($24.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,840 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $58,870. Iowa ranks 21st of 35 states for tank car, truck, and ship loaders pay. There are 0.12 tank car, truck, and ship loaders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tank car, truck, and ship loaders in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| 25th percentile | $45,840 | $22.04 |
| Median | $51,450 | $24.74 |
| 75th percentile | $57,820 | $27.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,840 | $32.13 |
| Average (mean) | $52,970 | $25.47 |
Half of tank car, truck, and ship loaders 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 | $4,287.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,143.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,978.85 |
| Weekly | $989.42 |
| Hourly | $24.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for tank car, truck, and ship loaders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $81,320 |
| South Carolina | $80,700 |
| Montana | $80,070 |
| Minnesota | $76,620 |
| Alabama | $75,450 |
| Oregon | $74,040 |
| Massachusetts | $71,750 |
| New Hampshire | $70,030 |
| California | $68,600 |
| New Jersey | $64,890 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,490 | $20.91 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,470 | $18.02 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $49,850 | $23.97 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $67,600 | $32.50 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $56,900 | $27.36 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $45,250 | $21.75 |
| Dredge Operator | $57,990 | $27.88 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $50,960 | $24.50 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,490 | $29.08 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-7121. 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 tank car, truck, and ship loaders make in Iowa?
The median salary for tank car, truck, and ship loaders in Iowa is $51,450 a year, or $24.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tank car, truck, and ship loaders make in Iowa?
The top 10% of tank car, truck, and ship loaders in Iowa earn at least $66,840 a year. The top 25% earn $57,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for tank car, truck, and ship loaders in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,530 a year, and a quarter of tank car, truck, and ship loaders earn $45,840 or less.
How many tank car, truck, and ship loaders work in Iowa?
About 180 tank car, truck, and ship loaders are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.