Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Iowa is $45,660/year ($21.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $51,384 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 34.2% 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 $46K get you in Iowa?
About packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
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What this looks like in Iowa
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $43K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.9% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level packaging and filling machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $68K | +48% | 1,080 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $51K | +12% | 850 |
| Ames | $48K | +6% | 280 |
| Dubuque | $48K | +4% | 160 |
| Sioux City | $44K | -4% | 810 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $43K | -6% | 210 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $41K | -11% | 550 |
| Iowa City | $39K | -16% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track packaging and filling machine operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a packaging and filling machine operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 34.9% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new packaging and filling machine operators and tenders typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,222/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is packaging and filling machine operators and tender a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $43K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders?
Iowa pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $43K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in Iowa?
The median is $45,660 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,040, and experienced packaging and filling machine operators and tenders can clear $63,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,046/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 34.9% 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 packaging and filling machine 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 packaging and filling machine operators and tenders salary is worth about $51,384 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do packaging and filling machine 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.