Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Iowa (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Iowa, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Iowa Median
$59,390
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.55
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+3% vs US median
US median $57,430
State Rank
#22 of 49
560 employed here

How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make in Iowa?

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining working in Iowa earn a median salary of $59,390 per year, or about $28.55 per hour. That is 3% above the national median of $57,430 for this occupation.

Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $41,600 while the top 10% make $63,590 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,780 and $61,630 a year.

Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary range in Iowa

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$41,600$20.00
25th percentile (early career)$48,780$23.45
50th percentile (median)$59,390$28.55
75th percentile (experienced)$61,630$29.63
90th percentile (top earners)$63,590$30.57

How Iowa compares

Iowa ranks 22nd out of 49 states and territories for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1North Dakota$90,380
2Illinois$80,600
3New Jersey$80,310
4Wyoming$78,230
5New Mexico$76,350

Working as Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Iowa

Nationally, about 34,000 people work as Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.

Considering a move? Compare Iowa pay ($59,390) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make in Iowa?
The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Iowa is $59,390 per year, or about $28.55 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $41,600 at the entry level to $63,590 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining about 3% more than the national median of $57,430. Iowa ranks 22nd out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining?
Yes on pay — Iowa pays above the national median for this occupation, at $59,390 a year. About 560 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining are employed in Iowa. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.