High paying production jobs in Iowa with no experience

The best paid production occupations in Iowa that require neither a degree nor prior experience in a related job. This is the narrowest cut on the site, so it is also the shortest list: where a field has only two or three such occupations, there is no page at all rather than a page pretending otherwise.

Cost of living: prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average (2024), so a Iowa salary is worth about 1.14× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Iowa.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find production jobs in Iowa

OccupationMedian, Iowa · Employed

1Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$72,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,580 – $72,670660
2Tool and Die Makers$65,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,540 – $80,170760
3Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $64,7801,420
4Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,880 – $76,0402,370
5Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$57,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,150 – $78,160640
6Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$57,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,330 – $82,1202,010
7Machinists$57,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,500 – $71,1602,880
8Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$55,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,590 – $65,2509,270
9Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$52,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,450 – $63,0404,750
10Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,200 – $83,2101,090
11Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,950 – $62,3301,310
12Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,550 – $73,4102,310
13Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$51,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,080 – $65,850650
14Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$51,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,540 – $57,4801,100
15Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$50,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,160 – $71,2407,230
16Tire Builders$50,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,650 – $63,820510
17Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,510 – $62,390920
18Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,290 – $62,100500
19Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,150 – $64,9703,220
20Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$48,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $59,59019,540
21Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,800 – $59,8204,460
22Food Batchmakers$48,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,830 – $62,7804,160
23Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,550 – $57,4902,030
24Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$47,960
No formal educational credential
$36,480 – $63,340660
25Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$47,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,410 – $52,020850
26Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$47,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,410 – $60,3701,010
27Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,330 – $70,410890
28Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,420 – $83,4801,010
29Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,040 – $63,2306,990
30Helpers--Production Workers$45,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,850 – $54,3902,070
31Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,650 – $66,2803,670
32Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$44,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,290 – $61,3604,000
33Production Workers, All Other$44,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,680 – $60,6503,480
34Slaughterers and Meat Packers$43,820
No formal educational credential
$33,750 – $46,0604,220
35Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$43,190
No formal educational credential
$39,170 – $46,2203,970
36Food Processing Workers, All Other$41,740
No formal educational credential
$40,230 – $43,1405,210
37Printing Press Operators$40,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,130 – $59,1902,070
38Butchers and Meat Cutters$37,750
No formal educational credential
$30,200 – $46,5104,480
39Bakers$37,210
No formal educational credential
$22,920 – $49,6102,150
40Sewing Machine Operators$35,870
No formal educational credential
$28,890 – $47,270590
41Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,050
No formal educational credential
$28,750 – $41,7001,900

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianIowa	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,670	$48,580 – $72,670	660
2	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,000	$51,540 – $80,170	760
3	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,590	$44,840 – $64,780	1,420
4	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,990	$46,880 – $76,040	2,370
5	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,780	$39,150 – $78,160	640
6	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,550	$46,330 – $82,120	2,010
7	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,540	$44,500 – $71,160	2,880
8	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,090	$45,590 – $65,250	9,270
9	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,300	$39,450 – $63,040	4,750
10	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,220	$39,200 – $83,210	1,090
11	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,740	$42,950 – $62,330	1,310
12	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,570	$41,550 – $73,410	2,310
13	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,360	$40,080 – $65,850	650
14	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,200	$39,540 – $57,480	1,100
15	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,740	$39,160 – $71,240	7,230
16	Tire BuildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,600	$38,650 – $63,820	510
17	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,600	$40,510 – $62,390	920
18	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,340	$40,290 – $62,100	500
19	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,330	$37,150 – $64,970	3,220
20	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,920	$35,560 – $59,590	19,540
21	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,910	$37,800 – $59,820	4,460
22	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,300	$35,830 – $62,780	4,160
23	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,240	$36,550 – $57,490	2,030
24	Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$47,960	$36,480 – $63,340	660
25	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,900	$43,410 – $52,020	850
26	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,110	$38,410 – $60,370	1,010
27	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,380	$38,330 – $70,410	890
28	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,110	$37,420 – $83,480	1,010
29	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,660	$37,040 – $63,230	6,990
30	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,560	$34,850 – $54,390	2,070
31	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,220	$35,650 – $66,280	3,670
32	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,880	$38,290 – $61,360	4,000
33	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,450	$30,680 – $60,650	3,480
34	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$43,820	$33,750 – $46,060	4,220
35	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$43,190	$39,170 – $46,220	3,970
36	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$41,740	$40,230 – $43,140	5,210
37	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,790	$30,130 – $59,190	2,070
38	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$37,750	$30,200 – $46,510	4,480
39	BakersNo formal educational credential	$37,210	$22,920 – $49,610	2,150
40	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$35,870	$28,890 – $47,270	590
41	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,050	$28,750 – $41,700	1,900

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Iowa. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Iowa

Metro areas in Iowa

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Iowa

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Iowa to rank honestly.

High paying production jobs in Iowa with no experience

More for Iowa

Metro areas in Iowa

By field in Iowa

Without a degree

High paying production jobs in each state with no experience