Conveyor Operators and Tenders Salary
Conveyor Operators and Tenders in Iowa make a median of $56,900 a year, or about $27.36 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $64,033 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Iowa?
About conveyor operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for conveyor operators and tenders, local pay runs about 34% higher than the U.S. median of $42K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level conveyor operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Conveyor Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | $47K | -18% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a conveyor operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 28.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for conveyor operators and tenders in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new conveyor operators and tenders typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,591/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is conveyor operators and tender a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 34% above the national median — $57K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for conveyor operators and tenders?
Iowa pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do conveyor operators and tenders make in Iowa?
The median is $56,900 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,190, and experienced conveyor operators and tenders can clear $63,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,745/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 28.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a conveyor operators and tenders salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median conveyor operators and tenders salary is worth about $64,033 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do conveyor operators and tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.