Highest-paying trades in Iowa
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Iowa, with a median of $115,300 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 58 of the 75 trades ranked here pay more than the $48,540 median for all jobs in Iowa.
All 75 trades by median pay in Iowa
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers90 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $115,300$55.43/hr |
| 2 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers1,390 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $100,200$48.17/hr |
| 3 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay120 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $86,490$41.58/hr |
| 4 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door820 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $83,830$40.30/hr |
| 5 | Boilermakers50 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $82,470$39.65/hr |
| 6 | Structural iron and steel workers+23% vs U.S. | $77,400$37.21/hr |
| 7 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment100 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $75,130$36.12/hr |
| 8 | Wind turbine service technicians900 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $74,880$36.00/hr |
| 9 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,130 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $72,250$34.74/hr |
| 10 | Construction and building inspectors1,140 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $71,630$34.44/hr |
| 11 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians330 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $69,890$33.60/hr |
| 12 | Brickmasons and blockmasons290 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $69,440$33.38/hr |
| 13 | Tapers100 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $66,980$32.20/hr |
| 14 | Sheet metal workers1,650 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $66,460$31.95/hr |
| 15 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers1,780 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $65,710$31.59/hr |
| 16 | Maintenance workers, machinery900 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $64,760$31.14/hr |
| 17 | Industrial machinery mechanics6,050 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $64,400$30.96/hr |
| 18 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers+22% vs U.S. | $64,390$30.96/hr |
| 19 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines2,820 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $64,290$30.91/hr |
| 20 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters5,730 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $63,890$30.72/hr |
| 21 | Security and fire alarm systems installers480 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $63,750$30.65/hr |
| 22 | Riggers200 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $62,400$30.00/hr |
| 23 | Millwrights690 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $62,220$29.91/hr |
| 24 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators+15% vs U.S. | $61,110$29.38/hr |
| 25 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers820 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $60,890$29.27/hr |
| 26 | Electricians10,310 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $60,860$29.26/hr |
| 27 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers3,840 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $60,680$29.17/hr |
| 28 | Rail car repairers340 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $60,550$29.11/hr |
| 29 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators5,530 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $60,330$29.01/hr |
| 30 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians2,210 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $59,860$28.78/hr |
| 31 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists4,140 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $59,680$28.69/hr |
| 32 | Mechanical door repairers330 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $59,640$28.67/hr |
| 33 | Medical equipment repairers650 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $59,300$28.51/hr |
| 34 | Highway maintenance workers4,000 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $58,490$28.12/hr |
| 35 | Cement masons and concrete finishers2,110 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $58,220$27.99/hr |
| 36 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners630 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $57,980$27.87/hr |
| 37 | Carpenters5,770 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $57,710$27.75/hr |
| 38 | Glaziers430 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $57,330$27.56/hr |
| 39 | Solar photovoltaic installers180 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $56,740$27.28/hr |
| 40 | Carpet installers+11% vs U.S. | $55,920$26.89/hr |
| 41 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall460 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $55,820$26.84/hr |
| 42 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles+14% vs U.S. | $55,160$26.52/hr |
| 43 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers9,270 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $55,090$26.49/hr |
| 44 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles160 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $54,960$26.42/hr |
| 45 | Insulation workers, mechanical140 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $54,440$26.17/hr |
| 46 | Tile and stone setters240 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $54,350$26.13/hr |
| 47 | Pipelayers280 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $53,990$25.96/hr |
| 48 | Fence erectors290 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $52,510$25.25/hr |
| 49 | Maintenance and repair workers, general16,500 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $52,160$25.08/hr |
| 50 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers290 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $51,030$24.53/hr |
| 51 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers50 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $50,760$24.40/hr |
| 52 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics7,610 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $50,510$24.28/hr |
| 53 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians110 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $49,930$24.01/hr |
| 54 | Hazardous materials removal workers270 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $49,870$23.98/hr |
| 55 | Painters, construction and maintenance1,770 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $49,710$23.90/hr |
| 56 | Automotive body and related repairers1,830 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $49,400$23.75/hr |
| 57 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other2,050 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $48,680$23.40/hr |
| 58 | Roofers930 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $48,660$23.39/hr |
| 59 | Construction laborers13,780 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $48,490$23.31/hr |
| 60 | Recreational vehicle service technicians420 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $48,030$23.09/hr |
| 61 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers420 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $47,330$22.76/hr |
| 62 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers210 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $47,180$22.68/hr |
| 63 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers220 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,990$22.59/hr |
| 64 | Floor sanders and finishers30 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $46,810$22.51/hr |
| 65 | Locksmiths and safe repairers120 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $46,360$22.29/hr |
| 66 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other200 jobs · −33% vs U.S. | $45,960$22.10/hr |
| 67 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics430 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,830$22.03/hr |
| 68 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers380 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,740$21.99/hr |
| 69 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators200 jobs · −35% vs U.S. | $45,640$21.94/hr |
| 70 | Automotive glass installers and repairers110 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,520$21.88/hr |
| 71 | Motorcycle mechanics300 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $44,840$21.56/hr |
| 72 | Home appliance repairers210 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $44,090$21.20/hr |
| 73 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners90 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $38,700$18.61/hr |
| 74 | Tire repairers and changers990 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $38,210$18.37/hr |
| 75 | Bicycle repairers230 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $34,240$16.46/hr |
Linked trades have full Iowa pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in Iowa, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a Iowa median for 13 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in Iowa?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $115,300 a year ($55.43 an hour) in Iowa, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Iowa?
- 2 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Iowa: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($115,300), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($100,200).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Iowa?
- 58 of the 75 trades ranked here have a median above $48,540, the median for all occupations in Iowa.
- Do trades pay more in Iowa than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 31 of the 75 trades have a higher median in Iowa than nationally. The biggest gap is structural iron and steel workers: $77,400, 23% above the U.S. median of $62,780.
- Which trade employs the most people in Iowa?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 16,500 jobs and a median of $52,160 a year.