Industrial Electrician Pay in Iowa
Updated 2026-10-30 · Based on 9 active job postings with disclosed pay · Compared to BLS OES data · 14 postings in the last 90 days, up 179% vs. run rate
ElectricianDB tracks 15 active industrial electricians openings in Iowa, 9 with disclosed pay. Median hourly pay is $46.88, with the middle 50% earning $35–$64.
Compared to the national median of $38/hr, Iowa pays 23.37% above average.
The Iowa electrician labor market
Iowa is a wind-powered electrician market where turbines, food processing, and insurance-city commercial work sustain steady demand. The state leads the nation in wind share of electricity — roughly two-thirds of in-state generation — employing turbine, substation, and transmission electricians across nearly every county, with repowering cycles creating recurring construction waves. Des Moines brings insurance and finance-tower commercial work, hospital expansions, and a growing data center presence (Meta's Altoona campus and enterprise facilities); Cedar Rapids adds food processing (Quaker, General Mills) and manufacturing; the Quad Cities share industrial demand with Illinois. Agricultural processing — ethanol plants, meatpacking, grain handling — sustains maintenance electricians in small cities statewide. Licensing is state-level through the Electrical Examining Board (journeyman, master, contractor classifications) with consistent enforcement — portable and respected. Union density is moderate in the metros and on industrial work (locals include Local 347 Des Moines, Local 405 Cedar Rapids, and Local 704 Dubuque); state prevailing wage covers state-funded public work above thresholds. Data centers are scaling in the Des Moines suburbs and along the I-80 corridor. Workforce dynamics are defined by stability and dispersion: work is spread across small cities rather than concentrated, experienced hands are valued over credentials-chasing, and apprentice pipelines keep reasonable pace. For electricians, wind/high-voltage tickets and the Altoona data center build lead on rate; Des Moines commercial and food-processing maintenance offer the steadiest careers with some of the Midwest's best rate-to-cost ratios.
Government data (BLS)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Iowa Electricians wages (May 2025 OES): median $29.26, 75th percentile $38.45, 90th percentile $43.02.
Source: BLS OES Iowa (May 2025 OES)
Our postings median ($50.94/hr) runs 74% above the BLS statewide median — posted openings skew toward higher-paying roles than the survey average.
Union data (IBEW)
| Local | City | Journeyman base ($/hr) | Contract | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 405 | Cedar Rapids | $44.73 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 704 | Dubuque | $43.80 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 347 | Des Moines | $42.20 | 2024 | asksparkyai.com |
| 231 | Sioux City | $40.68 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 13 | Burlington | $40.02 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
Pay comparison
| Metric | Our Data | BLS | IBEW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median ($/hr) | $46.88 | $29.26 | $41.44 |
| 25th percentile ($/hr) | $35 | — | — |
| 75th percentile ($/hr) | $64 | $38.45 | — |
| 90th percentile ($/hr) | — | $43.02 | — |
| Sample size | 9 postings | OES survey | 6 locals |
| Source | ElectricianDB | BLS OES | Listed above |
Why the columns differ: our percentiles come from 9 live postings (median + middle 50%). The BLS column shows the three percentiles our dataset carries (median, 75th, 90th) — BLS publishes more than we import. IBEW figures are journeyman base rates (median across 6 in-state locals), not survey percentiles. How we calculate pay →
Pay by license tier in Iowa
| Tier | Median ($/hr) | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| journeyman | $55 | 3 |
| engineer_pe | $41.83 | 2 |
Tier medians come from posting classifications, not license verification.
Highest-paying industrial electricians openings in Iowa
- Licensed Journeyman Electrician - Data Center - Cedar Rapids, IA — Confidential Employer (Cedar Rapids) · $65–$65/hr
- Journeyman Electrician — Confidential Employer (Cedar Rapids) · $65–$65/hr
- Journeyman Electrician – Data Center / Industrial (Phase 3) — Great Basin Staffing LLC (Des Moines) · $64–$64/hr
- Senior Electrical Engineer – PE Preferred — Interstates (Sioux Center) · $37.98–$55.77/hr
- Licensed Commercial Journeyman Electricians — Great Basin Staffing LLC (Des Moines) · $55–$55/hr
Active projects driving demand
- Statewide wind farm construction and repowering cycles (utility)
- Des Moines metro data center development (Altoona and suburbs) (data center)
- Food processing and ethanol plant maintenance statewide (industrial)
IBEW locals in Iowa
Sample postings
Pay above is sourced from active postings including:
- Aerotek – Travelling Electricians – $30 – $35/hr (Cedar Rapids, IA) View posting →
- Interstates – Senior Electrical Engineer – PE Preferred – $37.98 – $55.77/hr (Sioux Center, IA) View posting →
- Confidential Employer – Licensed Journeyman Electrician - Data Center - Cedar Rapids, IA – $65/hr (Cedar Rapids, IA) View posting →
Top employers hiring industrial electricians in Iowa
Industrial Electrician openings in Iowa
Frequently asked questions
What does a industrial electrician earn in Iowa?
Based on 9 active postings on ElectricianDB, median hourly pay is $46.88, with the middle 50% earning $35–$64. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a Iowa median of $29.26 for Electricians (May 2025 OES). IBEW journeyman base rates across 6 in-state locals median $41.44/hr.
How does Iowa compare to the national median?
Iowa pays 23.37% above the national median of $38/hr for industrial electricians.
Who pays industrial electricians the most in Iowa?
Among employers with disclosed pay, the most active are Aerotek (3 postings), Interstates (2 postings).
What does an electrician make in Iowa?
Based on 8 disclosed-pay postings tracked by ElectricianDB, the median hourly pay for industrial electrician work in Iowa is $50.94/hr. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a statewide electrician median of $29.26/hr.
Where are the highest-paying electrician jobs in Iowa?
The strongest recent postings cluster around Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Sioux Center. Top-end rates on active postings run above the $50.94/hr median — see the highest-paying openings listed on this page for current examples.
Which employers pay electricians the most in Iowa?
Among employers with repeated postings in Iowa, a mix of regional contractors show the highest average disclosed minimums. Averages reflect posted ranges, not verified take-home pay.
Do you need a Iowa electrician license to work there?
Most states require a license for unsupervised electrical work, and requirements vary by state and municipality — see our step-by-step licensing pathway for Iowa for the exact hours, exam, and fees.
What's the prevailing wage for electricians in Iowa?
Prevailing-wage coverage depends on federal and state funding rules that differ by project and jurisdiction — see Iowa prevailing wage rates for the current determinations.
How many electrician jobs are posted in Iowa right now?
ElectricianDB is currently tracking 8 disclosed-pay industrial electrician postings in Iowa. Counts change as contractors post and fill roles.
More on Iowa
Compare industrial electricians pay in neighboring states
More pay data in Iowa
Already licensed in Iowa? Check Iowa reciprocity →