Jobs that actually got a raise in Iowa

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 high paying jobs in Iowa

OccupationMedian, Iowa · Real change since 2019

1Coaches and Scouts$49,350
Bachelor's degree
$19,010 – $97,980+64.9%+107.6% nominal
2Driver/Sales Workers$47,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,670 – $64,760+45.9%+83.8% nominal
3Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$72,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,580 – $72,670+44.5%+81.9% nominal
4Advertising Sales Agents$58,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,250 – $92,120+32.8%+67.3% nominal
5Chief Executives$211,190
Bachelor's degree
$86,090 – $365,320+30.4%+64.3% nominal
6Counter and Rental Clerks$38,960
No formal educational credential
$31,820 – $58,490+28.9%+62.3% nominal
7Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $64,780+28.4%+61.7% nominal
8Conveyor Operators and Tenders$56,900
No formal educational credential
$43,190 – $63,780+26.2%+59.0% nominal
9Soil and Plant Scientists$96,310
Bachelor's degree
$56,270 – $170,820+21.6%+53.1% nominal
10Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$51,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,530 – $69,490+20.1%+51.2% nominal
11Dishwashers$29,300
No formal educational credential
$20,720 – $36,030+19.7%+50.8% nominal
12Massage Therapists$57,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,560 – $91,570+19.3%+50.2% nominal
13Butchers and Meat Cutters$37,750
No formal educational credential
$30,200 – $46,510+18.7%+49.5% nominal
14Computer Occupations, All Other$107,340
Bachelor's degree
$49,990 – $165,920+18.6%+49.4% nominal
15Cooks, Short Order$34,090
No formal educational credential
$24,960 – $46,650+18.5%+49.2% nominal
16Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$28,210
No formal educational credential
$21,880 – $40,550+16.8%+47.1% nominal
17Information Security Analysts$119,710
Bachelor's degree
$71,550 – $169,620+16.0%+46.0% nominal
18Childcare Workers$28,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,950 – $37,220+16.0%+46.0% nominal
19Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,040 – $63,230+15.9%+46.0% nominal
20Veterinarians$124,610
Doctoral or professional degree
$72,800 – $168,950+15.7%+45.7% nominal
21Couriers and Messengers$38,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,180 – $42,840+15.5%+45.4% nominal
22Producers and Directors$58,550
Bachelor's degree
$36,900 – $101,230+15.5%+45.4% nominal
23Medical Equipment Repairers$59,300
Associate's degree
$40,400 – $80,360+15.4%+45.3% nominal
24Food Service Managers$66,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,610 – $100,170+15.4%+45.3% nominal
25Machinists$57,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,500 – $71,160+15.2%+45.0% nominal
26Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$45,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,520 – $60,730+14.6%+44.3% nominal
27Production Workers, All Other$44,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,680 – $60,650+14.6%+44.4% nominal
28Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$48,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $59,590+13.9%+43.4% nominal
29Wind Turbine Service Technicians$74,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,630 – $100,410+13.8%+43.3% nominal
30Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,050
No formal educational credential
$28,750 – $41,700+13.7%+43.2% nominal
31News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$43,540
Bachelor's degree
$33,160 – $82,950+13.4%+42.8% nominal
32Surgical Technologists$60,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,280 – $75,100+13.3%+42.7% nominal
33Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$28,210
No formal educational credential
$16,980 – $35,460+12.9%+42.2% nominal
34Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$47,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,410 – $52,020+12.8%+42.1% nominal
35Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,550 – $77,710+12.2%+41.2% nominal
36Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$39,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,080 – $56,530+12.0%+41.1% nominal
37Cooks, Restaurant$35,670
No formal educational credential
$28,690 – $44,460+12.0%+41.0% nominal
38Machine Feeders and Offbearers$45,250
No formal educational credential
$34,540 – $56,850+11.7%+40.6% nominal
39Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$32,620
No formal educational credential
$28,630 – $38,070+11.7%+40.6% nominal
40Light Truck Drivers$42,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,600 – $92,460+11.2%+40.0% nominal
41Tax Preparers$53,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,520 – $84,700+11.2%+40.1% nominal
42Bakers$37,210
No formal educational credential
$22,920 – $49,610+11.1%+39.9% nominal
43Data Entry Keyers$43,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,210 – $57,920+11.1%+39.9% nominal
44Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,390 – $77,910+11.1%+39.9% nominal
45Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$96,810
Bachelor's degree
$60,760 – $153,330+11.0%+39.8% nominal
46Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,220
No formal educational credential
$40,910 – $74,180+10.7%+39.4% nominal
47Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$55,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,590 – $65,250+10.7%+39.4% nominal
48Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,650 – $66,280+10.7%+39.4% nominal
49Respiratory Therapists$74,760
Associate's degree
$62,860 – $86,510+10.6%+39.3% nominal
50Residential Advisors$36,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,090 – $49,780+10.3%+38.8% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$49,350	$19,010 – $97,980	+64.9%+107.6% nominal
2	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,120	$22,670 – $64,760	+45.9%+83.8% nominal
3	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,670	$48,580 – $72,670	+44.5%+81.9% nominal
4	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,480	$30,250 – $92,120	+32.8%+67.3% nominal
5	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$211,190	$86,090 – $365,320	+30.4%+64.3% nominal
6	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$38,960	$31,820 – $58,490	+28.9%+62.3% nominal
7	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,590	$44,840 – $64,780	+28.4%+61.7% nominal
8	Conveyor Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$56,900	$43,190 – $63,780	+26.2%+59.0% nominal
9	Soil and Plant ScientistsBachelor's degree	$96,310	$56,270 – $170,820	+21.6%+53.1% nominal
10	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,700	$29,530 – $69,490	+20.1%+51.2% nominal
11	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$29,300	$20,720 – $36,030	+19.7%+50.8% nominal
12	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,710	$37,560 – $91,570	+19.3%+50.2% nominal
13	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$37,750	$30,200 – $46,510	+18.7%+49.5% nominal
14	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$107,340	$49,990 – $165,920	+18.6%+49.4% nominal
15	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$34,090	$24,960 – $46,650	+18.5%+49.2% nominal
16	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$28,210	$21,880 – $40,550	+16.8%+47.1% nominal
17	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$119,710	$71,550 – $169,620	+16.0%+46.0% nominal
18	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,420	$21,950 – $37,220	+16.0%+46.0% nominal
19	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,660	$37,040 – $63,230	+15.9%+46.0% nominal
20	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$124,610	$72,800 – $168,950	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
21	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,460	$32,180 – $42,840	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
22	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$58,550	$36,900 – $101,230	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
23	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$59,300	$40,400 – $80,360	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
24	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,700	$45,610 – $100,170	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
25	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,540	$44,500 – $71,160	+15.2%+45.0% nominal
26	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,890	$35,520 – $60,730	+14.6%+44.3% nominal
27	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,450	$30,680 – $60,650	+14.6%+44.4% nominal
28	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,920	$35,560 – $59,590	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
29	Wind Turbine Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,880	$57,630 – $100,410	+13.8%+43.3% nominal
30	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,050	$28,750 – $41,700	+13.7%+43.2% nominal
31	News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsBachelor's degree	$43,540	$33,160 – $82,950	+13.4%+42.8% nominal
32	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,540	$47,280 – $75,100	+13.3%+42.7% nominal
33	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$28,210	$16,980 – $35,460	+12.9%+42.2% nominal
34	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,900	$43,410 – $52,020	+12.8%+42.1% nominal
35	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,630	$50,550 – $77,710	+12.2%+41.2% nominal
36	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,680	$30,080 – $56,530	+12.0%+41.1% nominal
37	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$35,670	$28,690 – $44,460	+12.0%+41.0% nominal
38	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$45,250	$34,540 – $56,850	+11.7%+40.6% nominal
39	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$32,620	$28,630 – $38,070	+11.7%+40.6% nominal
40	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,750	$29,600 – $92,460	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
41	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,660	$33,520 – $84,700	+11.2%+40.1% nominal
42	BakersNo formal educational credential	$37,210	$22,920 – $49,610	+11.1%+39.9% nominal
43	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,640	$32,210 – $57,920	+11.1%+39.9% nominal
44	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,070	$42,390 – $77,910	+11.1%+39.9% nominal
45	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$96,810	$60,760 – $153,330	+11.0%+39.8% nominal
46	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,220	$40,910 – $74,180	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
47	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,090	$45,590 – $65,250	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
48	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,220	$35,650 – $66,280	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
49	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$74,760	$62,860 – $86,510	+10.6%+39.3% nominal
50	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,850	$31,090 – $49,780	+10.3%+38.8% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Iowa

More for Iowa

Metro areas in Iowa

By field in Iowa

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state