Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in Iowa

In Iowa, the median pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders is $23.03 an hour ($47,900 a year). About 850 people work in this job there.

$23.03Median hourly pay
$46,380–$49,880Middle half of workers, yearly
850People in this job in Iowa

That is 15% higher than the U.S. median ($41,590). Iowa ranks 4th of 41 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Iowa

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$20.87$43,410
25% of workers$22.30$46,380
Half of workers (median)$23.03$47,900
75% of workers$23.98$49,880
90% of workers$25.01$52,020

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in Iowa metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Cedar Rapids$63,69040
Sioux City$51,600190
Dubuque$50,14040
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island$48,460100

Iowa unemployment rate: 3.2% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for food cooking machine operators and tenders

  • Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: -0.3% over ten years, little or no change · about 3,700 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Iowa

JobMedian yearly pay
Cooks, Restaurant$35,670
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,660
Food Batchmakers$48,300
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,570
Bakers$37,210
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,220
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$47,960
Food Processing Workers, All Other$41,740

Other job titles for this job

Food Production WorkerOven OperatorSteam Oven OperatorWine PasteurizerBakery FryerBlanching Machine OperatorBoilerCasing CookerChip FryerCoconut BoilerConfectionery CookerCook Box Filler

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.