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Potters, Manufacturing in Iowa

Thinking about a career as a Potters, Manufacturing in Iowa? Here’s what you need to know. Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.

What do Potters, Manufacturing Make in Iowa?

The potters, manufacturing working in Iowa, the typical annual salary is $44,760 per year (or roughly $21.52/hour).Earnings range from $30,140 at the 10th percentile to $57,760 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$30,140	$14.49
25th percentile	$40,020	$19.24
Median (50th)	$44,760	$21.52
75th percentile	$49,100	$23.61
90th percentile	$57,760	$27.77

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Iowa nationwide is 1.77, meaning that potters, manufacturing are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, potters, manufacturing earn a median of $58,919 per year ($28.33/hour), lower than the Iowa median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 773,789 potters, manufacturing across the United States. In Iowa alone, about 620 people work in this role. That’s right around the typical state median of 620.

Top Iowa Metros for Potters, Manufacturing

These are the Iowa metros with the most potters, manufacturing in Iowa.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	140	$44,950
Cedar Rapids, IA	50	$42,580
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	50	$44,190
Iowa City, IA	30	$38,890

Top States for Potters, Manufacturing Employment

These states have the highest employment of potters, manufacturing work.

State	Number Employed
California	4,090
Michigan	1,980
Texas	1,950
Indiana	1,740
Pennsylvania	1,740
Ohio	1,730
Florida	1,680
New York	1,350
Illinois	1,160
Massachusetts	1,150
Alabama	1,140
Washington	1,100
Tennessee	930
Missouri	810
New Jersey	800
Kansas	800
Wisconsin	790
Minnesota	730
North Carolina	710
Georgia	680

Highest-Paying States for Potters, Manufacturing

These states pay the most for potters, manufacturing.

State	Annual Median Salary
Hawaii	$74,780
Maryland	$51,470
New Hampshire	$50,690
New York	$50,470
Connecticut	$50,350
Massachusetts	$49,530
Montana	$49,350
Oregon	$49,290
New Jersey	$49,120
California	$48,390

Skills

Key potters, manufacturing skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for potters, manufacturing, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces.
• Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces, using tools, such as spray guns.
• Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
• Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
• Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
• Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
• Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
• Attach handles to pottery pieces.
• Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.
• Pack and ship pottery to stores or galleries for retail sale.
• Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
• Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.

Work Activities

• Handling and Moving Objects
• Thinking Creatively
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
• Scheduling Work and Activities
• Selling or Influencing Others
• Getting Information

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Other careers like potters, manufacturing include:

• Craft Artists
• Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
• Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
• Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Pourers and Casters, Metal

Also Known As

Clay Mixer, Glazer, Jigger Artisan, Jigger Machine Operator, Jiggerman, Kiln Worker, Manufacturing Potter, Pot Maker, Potter, Pottery Machine Operator, Pottery Manufacturer, Pottery and Porcelain Model Maker, Production Potter, Pugmill Operator, Thrower.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9195.05