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Iowa Jobs and Career Information
RELATIVE POPULARITY
Top 100 Jobs Relatively More Common in Iowa Than Elsewhere
Whether you're looking for a career to pursue, or just want to get a feel for occupations in the state, the table below should be helpful. And we haven't seen anything like it from anyone else.
This table tells us which jobs are more common in Iowa, relative to the state population, compared to their popularity in every other US state. A Local Popularity Index of 1.0 matches the average across all US states; higher and lower numbers indicate the job is proportionally more or less popular here.
| Rank | Job | Mean Local Salary 2006 | Local Jobs 2006 | Local Popularity Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soil and plant scientists | $60,680 | 120 | 5.5 |
| 2 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners | $31,915 | 170 | 4.7 |
| 3 | Grounds maintenance workers | $25,800 | 110 | 4.2 |
| 4 | Farm equipment mechanics | $32,495 | 290 | 3.9 |
| 5 | Cooks | $21,375 | 180 | 3.9 |
| 6 | Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders | $34,050 | 580 | 3.8 |
| 7 | Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation | $25,876 | 370 | 3.8 |
| 8 | Actuaries | $75,370 | 290 | 3.4 |
| 9 | Agricultural and food science technicians | $35,810 | 150 | 3.0 |
| 10 | Postmasters and mail superintendents | $53,282 | 190 | 2.9 |
| 11 | Bindery workers | $24,200 | 960 | 2.7 |
| 12 | Ophthalmic laboratory technicians | $22,535 | 270 | 2.5 |
| 13 | Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products | $44,620 | 110 | 2.5 |
| 14 | Metal workers and plastic workers | $36,110 | 310 | 2.3 |
| 15 | Legislators | $23,187 | 520 | 2.3 |
| 16 | Material moving workers | $30,970 | 490 | 2.2 |
| 17 | Insurance underwriters | $48,865 | 1,430 | 2.2 |
| 18 | Education, training, and library workers | $27,896 | 660 | 2.1 |
| 19 | Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing | $24,347 | 770 | 2.1 |
| 20 | Financial examiners | $66,010 | 290 | 2.1 |
| 21 | Community and social service specialists | $31,685 | 1,250 | 2.0 |
| 22 | Highway maintenance workers | $33,656 | 1,090 | 2.0 |
| 23 | Demonstrators and product promoters | $22,554 | 830 | 1.9 |
| 24 | Conveyor operators and tenders | $26,666 | 310 | 1.9 |
| 25 | Coaches and scouts | $22,146 | 1,620 | 1.9 |
| 26 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door | $48,595 | 240 | 1.9 |
| 27 | Photographers | $22,708 | 670 | 1.9 |
| 28 | Education administrators | $59,040 | 230 | 1.8 |
| 29 | Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer | $31,735 | 17,620 | 1.8 |
| 30 | Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders | $27,528 | 260 | 1.8 |
| 31 | Radio and television announcers | $24,866 | 340 | 1.8 |
| 32 | Mechanical drafters | $38,042 | 750 | 1.7 |
| 33 | Medical equipment repairers | $46,910 | 250 | 1.7 |
| 34 | Photographic process workers | $18,865 | 160 | 1.7 |
| 35 | Rehabilitation counselors | $28,382 | 1,060 | 1.7 |
| 36 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers | $47,882 | 1,610 | 1.7 |
| 37 | Insurance claims and policy processing clerks | $28,295 | 2,380 | 1.7 |
| 38 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $32,862 | 2,590 | 1.7 |
| 39 | Business operations specialists | $50,485 | 10,560 | 1.6 |
| 40 | Special education teachers, secondary school | $40,734 | 1,020 | 1.6 |
| 41 | Tool and die makers | $40,298 | 920 | 1.6 |
| 42 | Loan interviewers and clerks | $27,936 | 1,980 | 1.6 |
| 43 | Drafters | $45,250 | 110 | 1.6 |
| 44 | Commercial pilots | $63,020 | 140 | 1.6 |
| 45 | Medical and health services managers | $64,923 | 2,420 | 1.6 |
| 46 | Bartenders | $15,731 | 4,950 | 1.6 |
| 47 | Power plant operators | $48,865 | 130 | 1.6 |
| 48 | Dental hygienists | $56,914 | 1,550 | 1.6 |
| 49 | Cooks, institution and cafeteria | $19,971 | 3,520 | 1.6 |
| 50 | Veterinarians | $71,585 | 440 | 1.6 |
| 51 | Writers and authors | $32,888 | 370 | 1.5 |
| 52 | Reporters and correspondents | $34,166 | 400 | 1.5 |
| 53 | Library technicians | $24,751 | 850 | 1.5 |
| 54 | Medical transcriptionists | $27,920 | 790 | 1.5 |
| 55 | Packers and packagers, hand | $19,342 | 8,150 | 1.5 |
| 56 | Recreation workers | $18,736 | 2,480 | 1.5 |
| 57 | Computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal and plastic | $31,636 | 1,120 | 1.5 |
| 58 | Computer operators | $29,567 | 1,330 | 1.5 |
| 59 | Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers | $14,076 | 810 | 1.5 |
| 60 | Cement masons and concrete finishers | $32,105 | 1,920 | 1.5 |
| 61 | Refuse and recyclable material collectors | $26,743 | 820 | 1.5 |
| 62 | Brickmasons and blockmasons | $39,115 | 1,010 | 1.4 |
| 63 | Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators | $42,198 | 2,300 | 1.4 |
| 64 | Team assemblers | $26,300 | 10,140 | 1.4 |
| 65 | Education administrators, postsecondary | $60,508 | 800 | 1.4 |
| 66 | Special education teachers, middle school | $40,108 | 680 | 1.4 |
| 67 | Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators | $41,948 | 2,110 | 1.4 |
| 68 | Credit analysts | $46,245 | 570 | 1.4 |
| 69 | Food servers, nonrestaurant | $17,763 | 1,690 | 1.4 |
| 70 | Child care workers | $15,998 | 5,070 | 1.4 |
| 71 | Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors | $34,478 | 550 | 1.4 |
| 72 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | $32,040 | 2,820 | 1.4 |
| 73 | Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products | $57,201 | 3,400 | 1.4 |
| 74 | Social and community service managers | $48,595 | 1,010 | 1.4 |
| 75 | Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary | $46,403 | 230 | 1.4 |
| 76 | Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates | $90,810 | 130 | 1.4 |
| 77 | Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service | $23,018 | 1,330 | 1.4 |
| 78 | Industrial truck and tractor operators | $27,651 | 5,370 | 1.4 |
| 79 | Structural iron and steel workers | $42,827 | 480 | 1.3 |
| 80 | Biological technicians | $32,370 | 460 | 1.3 |
| 81 | Telemarketers | $20,848 | 3,200 | 1.3 |
| 82 | Dental laboratory technicians | $31,980 | 310 | 1.3 |
| 83 | Customer service representatives | $27,335 | 19,370 | 1.3 |
| 84 | Counselors | $24,346 | 130 | 1.3 |
| 85 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | $42,670 | 3,740 | 1.3 |
| 86 | Printing machine operators | $30,970 | 1,650 | 1.3 |
| 87 | Child, family, and school social workers | $34,473 | 2,000 | 1.3 |
| 88 | Production workers | $30,472 | 2,050 | 1.3 |
| 89 | Parts salespersons | $29,338 | 1,860 | 1.3 |
| 90 | Biological science teachers, postsecondary | $49,827 | 210 | 1.3 |
| 91 | Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education | $37,322 | 4,570 | 1.3 |
| 92 | Legal support workers | $39,502 | 490 | 1.3 |
| 93 | Managers | $65,505 | 2,960 | 1.3 |
| 94 | Cooks, short order | $17,054 | 1,430 | 1.3 |
| 95 | Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks | $17,185 | 1,550 | 1.3 |
| 96 | Assemblers and fabricators | $27,188 | 1,470 | 1.3 |
| 97 | Pharmacy technicians | $22,712 | 2,230 | 1.3 |
| 98 | Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program | $33,237 | 350 | 1.3 |
| 99 | Office machine operators, except computer | $22,894 | 660 | 1.3 |
| 100 | First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand | $40,527 | 1,470 | 1.2 |
ABSOLUTE POPULARITY
The Most Common Jobs in Iowa
Unlike the table above, which shows where jobs in Iowa are unusually common compared to other states, the table below lists jobs which are the most common in raw numbers in the state.
| Rank | Job | Local Jobs 2006 | Mean Local Salary 2006 | Local Popularity Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail salespersons | 32,780 | $22,431 | 1.1 |
| 2 | Cashiers | 23,690 | $15,873 | 1.0 |
| 3 | Office clerks, general | 21,750 | $23,577 | 1.1 |
| 4 | Customer service representatives | 19,370 | $27,335 | 1.3 |
| 5 | Registered nurses | 19,120 | $45,732 | 1.2 |
| 6 | Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer | 17,620 | $31,735 | 1.8 |
| 7 | Waiters and waitresses | 17,260 | $14,421 | 1.1 |
| 8 | Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | 16,640 | $22,658 | 1.1 |
| 9 | Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food | 15,900 | $15,105 | 1.1 |
| 10 | Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners | 15,860 | $20,851 | 1.1 |
| 11 | Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks | 14,110 | $28,806 | 1.2 |
| 12 | Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products | 12,280 | $50,685 | 1.2 |
| 13 | Stock clerks and order fillers | 11,890 | $21,238 | 1.1 |
| 14 | Business operations specialists | 10,560 | $50,485 | 1.6 |
| 15 | Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive | 10,260 | $26,000 | 0.9 |
| 16 | Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants | 10,240 | $21,928 | 1.2 |
| 17 | Team assemblers | 10,140 | $26,300 | 1.4 |
| 18 | Elementary school teachers, except special education | 9,770 | $35,731 | 1.1 |
| 19 | Executive secretaries and administrative assistants | 9,650 | $33,196 | 1.0 |
| 20 | Maintenance and repair workers, general | 8,470 | $31,671 | 1.0 |
| 21 | General and operations managers | 8,400 | $87,883 | 0.7 |
| 22 | Packers and packagers, hand | 8,150 | $19,342 | 1.5 |
| 23 | First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers | 7,980 | $42,981 | 0.8 |
| 24 | First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers | 7,830 | $35,265 | 1.1 |
| 25 | Accountants and auditors | 7,820 | $51,806 | 1.0 |
| 26 | Construction laborers | 7,050 | $28,797 | 1.1 |
| 27 | Truck drivers, light or delivery services | 6,810 | $25,962 | 1.1 |
| 28 | Receptionists and information clerks | 6,680 | $21,731 | 0.9 |
| 29 | Maids and housekeeping cleaners | 6,560 | $17,451 | 1.2 |
| 30 | Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education | 6,300 | $36,514 | 1.1 |
| 31 | Teacher assistants | 6,210 | $17,310 | 0.8 |
| 32 | Cooks, restaurant | 6,020 | $19,110 | 1.1 |
| 33 | Carpenters | 5,790 | $35,706 | 0.9 |
| 34 | Industrial truck and tractor operators | 5,370 | $27,651 | 1.4 |
| 35 | Food preparation workers | 5,350 | $16,822 | 0.9 |
| 36 | First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers | 5,110 | $27,626 | 1.0 |
| 37 | Child care workers | 5,070 | $15,998 | 1.4 |
| 38 | Security guards | 4,980 | $23,216 | 0.7 |
| 39 | Bartenders | 4,950 | $15,731 | 1.6 |
| 40 | Cooks, fast food | 4,900 | $14,994 | 1.2 |
| 41 | First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers | 4,800 | $49,112 | 1.1 |
| 42 | Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education | 4,570 | $37,322 | 1.3 |
| 43 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics | 4,490 | $32,388 | 1.0 |
| 44 | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 4,420 | $23,410 | 0.7 |
| 45 | Electricians | 4,290 | $42,547 | 1.1 |
| 46 | Computer systems analysts | 4,260 | $60,161 | 1.2 |
| 47 | Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks | 4,260 | $26,885 | 0.8 |
| 48 | Tellers | 4,140 | $21,692 | 1.2 |
| 49 | Billing and posting clerks and machine operators | 4,090 | $27,221 | 1.2 |
| 50 | Home health aides | 3,930 | $20,045 | 1.0 |
| 51 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | 3,740 | $42,670 | 1.3 |
| 52 | Financial managers | 3,700 | $81,395 | 1.1 |
| 53 | Cooks, institution and cafeteria | 3,520 | $19,971 | 1.6 |
| 54 | Dishwashers | 3,440 | $14,580 | 1.0 |
| 55 | Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | 3,440 | $32,295 | 0.8 |
| 56 | Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products | 3,400 | $57,201 | 1.4 |
| 57 | Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop | 3,220 | $15,068 | 1.0 |
| 58 | Telemarketers | 3,200 | $20,848 | 1.3 |
| 59 | First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers | 3,080 | $55,131 | 0.8 |
| 60 | Counter and rental clerks | 3,020 | $19,688 | 1.0 |
| 61 | Managers | 2,960 | $65,505 | 1.3 |
| 62 | Sales representatives, services | 2,850 | $42,520 | 1.0 |
| 63 | Police and sheriff's patrol officers | 2,850 | $42,390 | 0.9 |
| 64 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | 2,820 | $32,040 | 1.4 |
| 65 | First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers | 2,820 | $51,512 | 1.0 |
| 66 | Management analysts | 2,770 | $64,523 | 0.9 |
| 67 | Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists | 2,760 | $22,956 | 1.2 |
| 68 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | 2,750 | $37,973 | 1.2 |
| 69 | Computer support specialists | 2,720 | $38,268 | 0.8 |
| 70 | Computer programmers | 2,650 | $51,928 | 1.0 |
| 71 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | 2,590 | $32,862 | 1.7 |
| 72 | Bill and account collectors | 2,540 | $30,130 | 0.9 |
| 73 | Loan officers | 2,520 | $43,628 | 1.1 |
| 74 | Driver/sales workers | 2,500 | $26,631 | 1.0 |
| 75 | Recreation workers | 2,480 | $18,736 | 1.5 |
| 76 | Computer software engineers, applications | 2,480 | $61,640 | 0.7 |
| 77 | Medical and health services managers | 2,420 | $64,923 | 1.6 |
| 78 | Medical secretaries | 2,420 | $26,855 | 1.1 |
| 79 | Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders | 2,390 | $26,956 | 1.0 |
| 80 | Insurance claims and policy processing clerks | 2,380 | $28,295 | 1.7 |
| 81 | Cleaners of vehicles and equipment | 2,380 | $19,073 | 1.1 |
| 82 | Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers | 2,380 | $33,482 | 0.8 |
| 83 | Helpers--production workers | 2,370 | $23,656 | 0.8 |
| 84 | Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop | 2,340 | $15,026 | 1.0 |
| 85 | Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators | 2,300 | $42,198 | 1.4 |
| 86 | Insurance sales agents | 2,300 | $56,841 | 1.2 |
| 87 | Personal and home care aides | 2,270 | $19,326 | 0.7 |
| 88 | Preschool teachers, except special education | 2,240 | $20,465 | 1.0 |
| 89 | Pharmacy technicians | 2,230 | $22,712 | 1.3 |
| 90 | Postal service mail carriers | 2,220 | $45,053 | 1.0 |
| 91 | Lawyers | 2,190 | $83,095 | 0.6 |
| 92 | Chief executives | 2,140 | $126,075 | 1.0 |
| 93 | Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators | 2,110 | $41,948 | 1.4 |
| 94 | Production workers | 2,050 | $30,472 | 1.3 |
| 95 | Administrative services managers | 2,030 | $63,118 | 1.2 |
| 96 | Child, family, and school social workers | 2,000 | $34,473 | 1.3 |
| 97 | Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers | 1,990 | $15,170 | 0.7 |
| 98 | Loan interviewers and clerks | 1,980 | $27,936 | 1.6 |
| 99 | Data entry keyers | 1,930 | $23,256 | 0.9 |
| 100 | Cement masons and concrete finishers | 1,920 | $32,105 | 1.5 |
State employment statistics and analysis are © Copyright 2004-2008 Moving Traffic, Inc, owner of CityTownInfo.com. They offer extensive career descriptions and career education info and career-oriented school search resources.
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