Salaries › Heavy Equipment Operator › Iowa
Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in Iowa (2026)
$29.01 per hour · take-home ≈ $48,363/year ($4,030/month) for a single filer
Heavy Equipment Operator pay range in Iowa
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $46,690 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $53,610 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $60,330 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $72,660 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $87,460 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 5,530 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in Iowa (occupation code 47-2073, “Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Iowa
A median Heavy Equipment Operator salary of $60,330 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Iowa state income tax, a single filer keeps about $48,363 — an effective tax rate of 19.8%.
| Gross (median) | $60,330 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,060 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,615 |
| Iowa state income tax | −$2,293 |
| Take-home (annual) | $48,363 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,030 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Iowa paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Heavy Equipment Operator make in Iowa?
- The median Heavy Equipment Operator salary in Iowa is $60,330 per year ($29.01 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $53,610 and $72,660.
- What is the take-home pay for a Heavy Equipment Operator in Iowa?
- On the median salary of $60,330, a single filer in Iowa takes home about $48,363 per year ($4,030 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.8%.
- How many Heavy Equipment Operator jobs are there in Iowa?
- BLS counts 5,530 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in Iowa in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Heavy Equipment Operators
Other salaries in Iowa
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Iowa state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Iowa.