Production Occupations in Iowa, May 2024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 state estimates. BLS sorts every occupation into one of 22 major groups; this is the Production Occupations group in Iowa. These are estimates of jobs and wages, not job openings.
The group’s own figures in Iowa
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupation group code | 51-0000 |
| Employment | 145,790 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 93.355 |
| Location quotient | 1.65 |
| Mean annual wage | $49,610 |
| Median annual wage | $47,560 |
| Mean hourly wage | $23.85 |
| Median hourly wage | $22.87 |
| 10th percentile annual wage | $35,380 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $40,500 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $56,420 |
| 90th percentile annual wage | $65,570 |
Detailed occupations in this group in Iowa
Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this group in Iowa, sorted by employment. Rows where BLS publishes no employment estimate (**) come last. Click a column heading to sort. A cell that reads “not published annually” or “not published hourly” means BLS publishes that row on the other basis only. A cell showing * or # is BLS’s own footnote symbol, explained below the table. Each row is that occupation’s own BLS record for Iowa.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage | 10th percentile annual wage | 90th percentile annual wage | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 20,500 | $46,210 | $44,880 | $31,650 | $57,400 | $22.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 10,630 | $71,140 | $71,650 | $47,220 | $96,160 | $34.2 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 9,250 | $49,450 | $52,280 | $41,190 | $61,570 | $23.77 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 7,460 | $43,900 | $46,350 | $35,900 | $64,360 | $21.11 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 7,070 | $48,940 | $51,740 | $38,710 | $66,120 | $23.53 |
| Food Batchmakers | 4,990 | $48,790 | $49,700 | $33,920 | $62,490 | $23.46 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 4,710 | $50,250 | $52,340 | $40,580 | $65,010 | $24.16 |
| Production Workers, All Other | 4,460 | $46,380 | $44,130 | $31,160 | $58,200 | $22.3 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 4,350 | $48,610 | $48,770 | $38,490 | $59,380 | $23.37 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | 4,130 | $36,600 | $36,580 | $29,840 | $43,880 | $17.6 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | 4,040 | $44,400 | $43,640 | $37,860 | $48,650 | $21.35 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 3,290 | $44,390 | $44,860 | $36,140 | $59,200 | $21.34 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 3,270 | $42,550 | $42,470 | $38,340 | $47,580 | $20.46 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | 3,070 | $40,570 | $42,200 | $38,870 | $45,780 | $19.51 |
| Machinists | 3,010 | $53,400 | $54,950 | $42,280 | $68,930 | $25.67 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,990 | $47,530 | $48,680 | $36,620 | $62,930 | $22.85 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 2,770 | $45,380 | $45,140 | $33,750 | $58,770 | $21.82 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | 2,460 | $59,400 | $58,580 | $45,650 | $73,960 | $28.56 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 2,320 | $47,850 | $47,470 | $37,810 | $55,660 | $23 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 2,320 | $46,480 | $49,810 | $39,450 | $65,630 | $22.34 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 2,250 | $46,000 | $44,780 | $35,290 | $50,890 | $22.12 |
| Printing Press Operators | 2,240 | $39,660 | $42,020 | $29,950 | $56,990 | $19.07 |
| Bakers | 2,130 | $36,460 | $35,790 | $21,170 | $48,300 | $17.53 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | 2,120 | $32,250 | $32,610 | $27,080 | $38,410 | $15.51 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | 2,080 | $55,030 | $58,690 | $46,370 | $79,460 | $26.46 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,970 | $60,210 | $56,280 | $43,430 | $62,650 | $28.95 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,650 | $52,100 | $52,340 | $42,280 | $60,900 | $25.05 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | 1,570 | $47,890 | $47,980 | $46,590 | $51,490 | $23.02 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | 1,310 | $46,640 | $47,140 | $37,370 | $59,410 | $22.42 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 1,200 | $44,920 | $47,080 | $37,770 | $68,400 | $21.6 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,180 | $48,950 | $53,580 | $35,150 | $80,920 | $23.54 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 1,000 | $45,910 | $46,500 | $41,830 | $49,970 | $22.07 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 880 | $52,310 | $52,220 | $38,160 | $65,560 | $25.15 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 850 | $50,260 | $51,980 | $39,930 | $63,260 | $24.16 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 820 | $45,570 | $44,990 | $34,220 | $55,350 | $21.91 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 820 | $48,880 | $50,350 | $38,690 | $62,010 | $23.5 |
| Sewing Machine Operators | 790 | $36,790 | $37,610 | $28,110 | $50,940 | $17.69 |
| Tire Builders | 770 | $55,110 | $54,270 | $38,360 | $68,840 | $26.5 |
| Tool and Die Makers | 720 | $61,840 | $61,750 | $49,710 | $76,410 | $29.73 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 700 | $56,660 | $57,200 | $37,890 | $75,140 | $27.24 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 630 | $46,590 | $48,080 | $38,630 | $62,240 | $22.4 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 620 | $44,760 | $44,600 | $30,140 | $57,760 | $21.52 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 610 | $45,700 | $45,920 | $39,690 | $55,130 | $21.97 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 560 | $56,380 | $55,340 | $40,800 | $73,670 | $27.11 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 460 | $47,440 | $48,920 | $37,090 | $63,250 | $22.81 |
| Gas Plant Operators | 400 | $89,070 | $87,250 | $67,600 | $97,800 | $42.82 |
| Dental Laboratory Technicians | 380 | $48,560 | $55,450 | $37,310 | $70,180 | $23.34 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 380 | $64,080 | $62,520 | $41,510 | $74,250 | $30.81 |
| Power Plant Operators | 380 | $98,880 | $88,970 | $60,700 | $106,250 | $47.54 |
| Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 350 | $39,330 | $44,860 | $31,770 | $60,020 | $18.91 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | 330 | $42,060 | $43,690 | $38,060 | $50,390 | $20.22 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 320 | $57,300 | $58,870 | $41,750 | $72,210 | $27.55 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 320 | $47,740 | $46,470 | $39,350 | $49,860 | $22.95 |
| Prepress Technicians and Workers | 280 | $45,850 | $46,900 | $31,060 | $61,760 | $22.04 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | 250 | $48,880 | $57,960 | $40,390 | $80,070 | $23.5 |
| Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 250 | $49,940 | $49,360 | $40,430 | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 240 | $46,960 | $47,410 | $40,550 | $52,940 | $22.58 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 220 | $50,470 | $52,270 | $39,130 | $63,110 | $24.26 |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 220 | $48,780 | $51,650 | $45,400 | $66,700 | $23.45 |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | 200 | $55,800 | $51,060 | $40,310 | $55,800 | $26.83 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 190 | $33,770 | $36,300 | $29,370 | $50,960 | $16.23 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 190 | $65,380 | $65,360 | $53,660 | $74,860 | $31.43 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 170 | $45,390 | $46,670 | $35,840 | $58,920 | $21.82 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 170 | $45,240 | $45,270 | $37,640 | $49,890 | $21.75 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 160 | $49,560 | $51,760 | $39,560 | $62,640 | $23.83 |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 150 | $47,110 | $48,290 | $39,450 | $58,910 | $22.65 |
| Etchers and Engravers | 140 | $41,600 | $41,920 | $31,450 | $53,040 | $20 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | 140 | $30,760 | $29,560 | $22,570 | $35,320 | $14.79 |
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 130 | $49,810 | $50,110 | $43,180 | $58,000 | $23.95 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 120 | $44,810 | $49,350 | $40,930 | $63,950 | $21.55 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 120 | $50,940 | $54,040 | $36,560 | $79,770 | $24.49 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | 120 | $47,290 | $47,100 | $31,450 | $62,150 | $22.73 |
| Furniture Finishers | 110 | $45,480 | $48,450 | $40,620 | $55,320 | $21.87 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 110 | $93,760 | $86,070 | $62,300 | $101,390 | $45.08 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | 110 | $58,340 | $61,990 | $52,740 | $75,090 | $28.05 |
| Pourers and Casters, Metal | 110 | $54,320 | $54,840 | $40,060 | $74,520 | $26.12 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 100 | $46,870 | $45,670 | $36,800 | $55,710 | $22.54 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | 100 | $45,730 | $51,240 | $39,370 | $61,610 | $21.99 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 100 | $31,900 | $36,500 | $26,830 | $56,280 | $15.34 |
| Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | 90 | $32,100 | $38,300 | $31,980 | $47,900 | $15.43 |
| Upholsterers | 70 | $49,670 | $49,750 | $44,470 | $51,590 | $23.88 |
| Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | 60 | $52,400 | $57,300 | $47,710 | $74,420 | $25.19 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | 60 | $36,810 | $37,130 | $29,010 | $44,770 | $17.7 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | 50 | $48,010 | $44,850 | $35,000 | $48,010 | $23.08 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | 50 | $38,190 | $40,160 | $29,640 | $49,170 | $18.36 |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | 50 | $43,400 | $46,020 | $39,460 | $52,300 | $20.87 |
| Woodworkers, All Other | 50 | $48,350 | $46,960 | $39,460 | $51,550 | $23.24 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | 40 | $46,230 | $44,430 | $37,490 | $49,200 | $22.23 |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | 40 | $63,300 | $61,740 | $48,990 | $69,100 | $30.44 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | ** | $60,100 | $58,570 | $49,980 | $63,690 | $28.9 |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | ** | $45,420 | $46,080 | $43,850 | $47,510 | $21.84 |
Symbols (BLS wording, workbook sheet Field Descriptions sheet): ** indicates that an employment estimate is not available · * indicates that a wage estimate is not available · # indicates a wage equal to or greater than $115.00 per hour or $239,200 per year. A wage shown as a symbol is not zero and not a blank: BLS publishes no number there.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 state estimates. Record: state_M2024_dl.xlsx!AREA=19&OCC_CODE=51-0000. the group row is AREA 19 / OCC_CODE 51-0000, and each table row is its own detailed record for this area, AREA 19 / OCC_CODE 51-xxxx. Reference period: May 2024. Fetched October 2026 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip.