What are the top 10 cities with the highest pay for Entry Level Machine Operator?

We've identified 10 cities in Iowa where Entry Level Machine Operator jobs typically pay above the area average. Topping the list is Mediapolis (24.8% above average), followed by Oakland and Winfield. City Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage Mediapolis $42,573 $3,547 $818 $20.47 Oakland $42,373 $3,531 $814 $20.37 Winfield $40,799 $3,399 $784 $19.61 Monticello $38,895 $3,241 $747 $18.70 Creston $37,518 $3,126 $721 $18.04 Sperry $37,194 $3,099 $715 $17.88 Danville $37,163 $3,096 $714 $17.87 Adel $36,812 $3,067 $707 $17.70 Marion $36,218 $3,018 $696 $17.41 Atlantic $36,151 $3,012 $695 $17.38

Entry Level Machine Operator

Entry Level Machine Operator Salary in Iowa

Q: How much does an Entry Level Machine Operator make in Iowa?

The average annual pay for an entry level machine operator in Iowa is $34,120 a year — that works out to approximately $16.40 an hour. That is 6.1% below the national average of $36,327. The middle 80% of Entry Level Machine Operators earn between $28,177 (10th percentile) and $39,918 (90th percentile) per year, depending on experience and employer.

Q: What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Entry Level Machine Operator Jobs in Iowa?

We found several jobs related to Entry Level Machine Operator in Iowa that pay more on average. Topping the list is Lead Machine Operator at $13,827 (40.5%) above Entry Level Machine Operator. Job Title Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage Lead Machine Operator $47,947 $3,995 $922 $23.05 Slitting Machine Operator $36,845 $3,070 $708 $17.71 Machine Operator Assistant $36,134 $3,011 $694 $17.37 Production Machine Operator $35,970 $2,997 $691 $17.29 Filling Machine Operator $33,641 $2,803 $646 $16.17

$24K

$33.8K

$41.8K

$34,120

/year

$16.40

/hour

Entry Level Machine Operator Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$36,327

Iowa

$34,120

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How much does an Entry Level Machine Operator make in Iowa?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average annual pay for an Entry Level Machine Operator in Iowa is $34,120 a year.

Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $16.40 an hour. This is the equivalent of $656/week or $2,843/month.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $41,797 and as low as $23,951, the majority of Entry Level Machine Operator salaries currently range between $30,500 (25th percentile) to $37,100 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $39,918 annually in Iowa. The average pay range for an Entry Level Machine Operator varies little (about 6600), which suggests that regardless of location, there are not many opportunities for increased pay or advancement, even with several years of experience.

Iowa ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for Entry Level Machine Operator salaries.

To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Entry Level Machine Operator jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

Find your next high paying job as an Entry Level Machine Operator on ZipRecruiter today.

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Entry Level Machine Operator Jobs in Iowa

We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an Entry Level Machine Operator job is above the average in Iowa in Iowa. Topping the list is Mediapolis, , with Oakland, and Winfield, close behind in the second and third positions. Winfield, beats the average in Iowa by $6,679 (19.6%), and Mediapolis, furthers that trend with another $8,453 (24.8%) above the $34,120 average.

With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for Iowa, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as an Entry Level Machine Operator appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 16% between Mediapolis, and Atlantic, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for an Entry Level Machine Operator role.

City	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
Mediapolis	$42,573	$3,547	$818	$20.47
Oakland	$42,373	$3,531	$814	$20.37
Winfield	$40,799	$3,399	$784	$19.61
Monticello	$38,895	$3,241	$747	$18.70
Creston	$37,518	$3,126	$721	$18.04
Sperry	$37,194	$3,099	$715	$17.88
Danville	$37,163	$3,096	$714	$17.87
Adel	$36,812	$3,067	$707	$17.70
Marion	$36,218	$3,018	$696	$17.41
Atlantic	$36,151	$3,012	$695	$17.38

What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Entry Level Machine Operator Jobs in Iowa

Analyzing similar jobs related to the Entry Level Machine Operator job category in Iowa, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $34120 state average for Entry Level Machine Operator jobs.

Job Title	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
Lead Machine Operator	$47,947	$3,995	$922	$23.05
Slitting Machine Operator	$36,845	$3,070	$708	$17.71
Machine Operator Assistant	$36,134	$3,011	$694	$17.37
Production Machine Operator	$35,970	$2,997	$691	$17.29
Filling Machine Operator	$33,641	$2,803	$646	$16.17

About Our Data

ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

Infographic detailing Entry Level Machine Operator salary in Iowa as of July 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $30,500 to $39,918 annually, with the Iowa average at $34,120 per year or $16.40 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in Iowa for Entry Level Machine Operator jobs, with Mediapolis leading at $42,573 annually.

All Salaries Entry Level Machine Operator Salary Entry Level Machine Operator Salary in Iowa