Riggers Salary
Riggers in Iowa make a median of $62,400 a year, or about $30 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $70,223 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 25.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Iowa. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $62K get you in Iowa?
About riggers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Riggers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26% 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 riggers (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track riggers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rigger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 26% 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 riggers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new riggers typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,582/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 rigger a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for riggers?
Iowa pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do riggers make in Iowa?
The median is $62,400 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,030, and experienced riggers can clear $71,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,087/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 26% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a riggers 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 riggers salary is worth about $70,223 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do riggers 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.