Heavy Equipment in Iowa: Jobs, Certifications & Pay
Iowa heavy-equipment salaries, license requirements, top hiring cities, and active job openings... everything you need to plan your career in the Iowa trades.
Iowa Heavy Equipment Market at a Glance
Real-time heavy equipment job market data for Iowa — current openings,
projected growth through 2032, and median wages... pulled from the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Iowa Heavy Equipment Salary by Career Stage
See what Heavy Equipment workers in Iowa earn at every stage of their career, from entry-level apprenticeships to top-earning contractors.
Apprentice Heavy equipment
Median Annual Salary
$22-25
$46K-53K
Journeyman Heavy equipment
Median Annual Salary
$23-28
$48K-59K
Master Heavy equipment
Median Annual Salary
$29-34
$60K-72K
Contractor
Median Annual Salary
$34-42+
$72K-87K+
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Top Iowa heavy-equipment Jobs
Live Heavy Equipment job openings across Iowa. Browse current postings from top employers and contractors hiring now by pay rate, schedule, work environment plus more.
Per diem heavy-equipment Jobs in Iowa
Travel for work, earn more. Per diem Heavy Equipment jobs in Iowa include daily allowances for lodging and meals on top of competitive hourly rates — often tax-free for traveling tradespeople.
Per Diem Heavy Equipment Jobs Pay More
Per diem positions offer skilled tradespeople the opportunity to travel while earning premium pay. These short-term assignments include daily allowances for lodging, meals, and incidentals — often tax-free, on top of competitive hourly rates.
Higher Earning Potential
Per diem stipends of $100-$200+ on top of Heavy Equipment hourly pay
See New Places
Travel for high-paying Heavy Equipment jobs
Flexible Assignments
Pick Heavy Equipment projects that fit your schedule
Top 10 Highest-Paying US States for Heavy Equipment
The 10 US states where Heavy Equipment workers earn the most at the top of their career, ranked by annual salary. Click any state to explore Heavy Equipment jobs and career data there.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Rank | State | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $126,300 | $60.74/hr |
| 2 | California | $125,500 | $60.37/hr |
| 3 | Hawaii | $121,700 | $58.55/hr |
| 4 | Washington | $114,600 | $55.12/hr |
| 5 | New York | $112,900 | $54.29/hr |
| 6 | Illinois | $109,300 | $52.56/hr |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $107,500 | $51.71/hr |
| 8 | Connecticut | $101,600 | $48.85/hr |
| 9 | Alaska | $99,800 | $48.03/hr |
| 10 | Oregon | $97,800 | $47.04/hr |
Iowa Heavy Equipment FAQ
Common questions about Heavy Equipment careers in Iowa — licensing, salaries, per diem opportunities, and how to get started.
Ready to Build Your heavy-equipment Career in Iowa?
Heavy Equipment jobs in Iowa aren't just paychecks — they're careers with real earning potential, job security, and a community of tradespeople who show up and get things built. Iowa contractors are hiring Heavy Equipment workers right now. Join thousands of tradespeople already using SkilledTrades.com to find their next opportunity.