Salaries › Packaging Machine Operator › Iowa
Packaging Machine Operator Salary in Iowa (2026)
$21.95 per hour · take-home ≈ $37,133/year ($3,094/month) for a single filer
Packaging Machine Operator pay range in Iowa
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $37,040 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $40,810 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $45,660 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $51,560 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $63,230 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 6,990 Packaging Machine Operator jobs in Iowa (occupation code 51-9111, “Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders”).
Gross vs. take-home in Iowa
A median Packaging Machine Operator salary of $45,660 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 $37,133 — an effective tax rate of 18.7%.
| Gross (median) | $45,660 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,299 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,493 |
| Iowa state income tax | −$1,735 |
| Take-home (annual) | $37,133 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,094 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Iowa paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Packaging Machine Operator make in Iowa?
- The median Packaging Machine Operator salary in Iowa is $45,660 per year ($21.95 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $40,810 and $51,560.
- What is the take-home pay for a Packaging Machine Operator in Iowa?
- On the median salary of $45,660, a single filer in Iowa takes home about $37,133 per year ($3,094 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.7%.
- How many Packaging Machine Operator jobs are there in Iowa?
- BLS counts 6,990 Packaging Machine Operator jobs in Iowa in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Packaging Machine 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.