Food Batchmakers Salary
Food Batchmakers in Iowa make a median of $48,300 a year, or about $23.22 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $54,355 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Iowa?
About food batchmakers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for food batchmakers, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $42K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.1% 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 food batchmakers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Food Batchmakers salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $78K | +61% | 480 |
| Ames | $51K | +5% | 110 |
| Dubuque | $49K | +2% | 140 |
| Iowa City | $48K | -1% | 70 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $47K | -3% | 500 |
| Sioux City | $46K | -5% | 350 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $46K | -6% | 280 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $45K | -7% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track food batchmakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food batchmaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 33.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food batchmakers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food batchmakers typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,150/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food batchmaker a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $48K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for food batchmakers?
Iowa pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food batchmakers make in Iowa?
The median is $48,300 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,830, and experienced food batchmakers can clear $62,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,210/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 33.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food batchmakers 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 food batchmakers salary is worth about $54,355 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food batchmakers 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.