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Food Preparation Workers in Iowa
Get the information you need to know about working as a Food Preparation Worker.
You’re in luck! Jobs for Food Preparation Workers in Iowa are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.
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Projected employment for Food Preparation Workers in Iowa is growing faster than average.
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Food Preparation Workers in Iowa earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.
How Many Food Preparation Workers Work in Iowa?
In 2018, there were 6,370 Food Preparation Workers working in the state.
There were 6,200 Food Preparation Workers employed in this state in 2017.
That’s growth of 170 jobs between 2017 and 2018.
The typical state has 8,670 Food Preparation Workers working in it, which means Iowa has fewer Food Preparation Workers than average.
Job Projections for Iowa
Jobs for Food Preparation Workers in this state are growing at a rate of 8.3% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 7.9%.
Iowa Annual Job Openings
The BLS estimates 1,620 annual job openings, and a total of 9,620 jobs for Iowa Food Preparation Workers in 2026.
Nationwide, the prediction is 157,700 annual jobs and 939,700 total jobs in 2026.
What do Food Preparation Workers Make in Iowa?
In 2018 wages for Food Preparation Workers ranged from $17,240 to $30,170 with $22,010 being the median annual salary.
Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $8.29 to $14.5. The median hourly rate was $10.58.
Workers in this field were paid a median of $9.89 an hour in 2017.
The hourly rate grew by $0.69.
The median salary in Iowa is higher than the nationwide median salary.
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Top Iowa Metros for Food Preparation Workers
The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Food Preparation Workers.
Metro | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 2,080 | $23,040 |
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1,730 | $23,360 |
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 700 | $22,160 |
Cedar Rapids, IA | 550 | $23,460 |
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 380 | $22,060 |
Iowa City, IA | 210 | $24,870 |
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 180 | $22,320 |
Dubuque, IA | 180 | $19,900 |
Ames, IA | 110 | $23,310 |
Top States for Food Preparation Workers Employment
View the list below to see where most Food Preparation Workers work.
State | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|---|
California | 102,680 | $26,040 |
Florida | 62,010 | $23,020 |
New York | 61,600 | $26,680 |
Texas | 55,060 | $22,730 |
Louisiana | 35,890 | $18,350 |
Georgia | 35,360 | $20,350 |
New Jersey | 32,960 | $22,520 |
Illinois | 32,430 | $24,220 |
Ohio | 26,740 | $21,040 |
North Carolina | 19,820 | $21,660 |
Virginia | 19,640 | $20,640 |
Pennsylvania | 19,310 | $22,060 |
Tennessee | 18,060 | $20,550 |
Washington | 17,380 | $28,210 |
Indiana | 16,220 | $20,930 |
Maryland | 15,620 | $24,220 |
Massachusetts | 15,080 | $27,420 |
Michigan | 14,630 | $22,530 |
Arizona | 14,220 | $24,070 |
Oregon | 14,110 | $25,730 |
Below are the states where Food Preparation Workers get paid the most:
State | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|
District of Columbia | $29,100 |
Washington | $28,210 |
Nevada | $28,130 |
Rhode Island | $27,910 |
Massachusetts | $27,420 |
New York | $26,680 |
Alaska | $26,540 |
Connecticut | $26,430 |
Minnesota | $26,180 |
California | $26,040 |
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
More about our data sources and methodologies.