How much does a Welder make in Iowa?

The average Welder salary in Iowa is around $65,000 per year. After federal taxes, FICA, and Iowa state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $52,549 annually ($4,379/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in Iowa?

On a $65,000 salary in Iowa, your take-home pay is approximately $52,549/year or $4,379/month. Federal tax: $5,620. State tax: $1,858. FICA: $0.00.

Is $65,000 a good Welder salary?

$65,000 is a competitive salary for a Welder — above the national median. In Iowa, demand for this role is active.

How do Iowa taxes affect Welder salaries?

Iowa levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $65,000 is $1,858. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 19.2%.

What are the career growth prospects for Welders?

2% growth through 2032 (slower than average) overall; pipeline + Permian rig + underwater + aerospace TIG specialty growing faster. Related roles include: Pipe Welder, Structural Welder, Rig Welder, Underwater Welder, Aerospace TIG Welder, Welding Inspector, Welding Supervisor.

How can a Welder in Iowa reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Trades

Welder Salary in Iowa (2026)

The average Welder in Iowa earns around $65,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $52,549/year ($4,379/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$52,549
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$4,379
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$2,021
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$25/hr
Federal Tax	$5,620
State Tax	$1,858
FICA Taxes	$4,973
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	19.15%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Want to model 401(k), HSA, or pre-tax contributions against your full salary? Open the salary calculator →

Working overtime? The 2025 OBBBA deduction may save you up to $12,500 on federal tax. Open the No Tax on Overtime calculator →

1099 contract work or side gigs? Self-employment tax adds 15.3% on top. Open the 1099 tax calculator →

Key terms:···

Welder Salary Ranges in Iowa

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$40,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$60,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$130,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Not all Welders earn the same — not even close

Iowa's welder market is anchored by John Deere (~25K IA Deere employees + Moline IL HQ + the substantial Deere Waterloo Works engine + transmission + cab + Davenport Works construction equipment + Dubuque Works construction + forestry + Des Moines Works drawn equipment + Ottumwa Works tillage + the substantial Deere combine + tractor + the substantial Deere AWS D1.1 + AWS D14 ag equipment welder + the substantial Deere UAW Local 838 Waterloo + UAW Local 281 Davenport collective bargaining), Collins Aerospace Cedar Rapids (Raytheon Technologies + ~10K Collins Cedar Rapids employees + the substantial Collins avionics + comms + the substantial Collins precision welder + cleared facility + AS9100 + NAS 410 aerospace), Vermeer Pella (ag + industrial equipment + the substantial Vermeer balers + chippers + horizontal directional drilling welder + ~3K Vermeer Pella employees + the substantial Vermeer family-owned), Winnebago Industries Forest City (RV manufacturing + the substantial Winnebago Class A motorhome + the substantial Winnebago aluminum + steel chassis welder), HNI Corporation Muscatine (office furniture + the substantial HNI ~9K employees + the substantial HNI Hearth + HNI metal welder), ADM + Cargill + Quaker Oats + General Mills corn + grain processing (the substantial IA corn + ethanol + soybean processing welder + ASME stainless + sanitary), Tyson + Smithfield meat processing (the substantial IA Storm Lake + Perry + Waterloo + Columbus Junction + Sioux City stainless welder), plus substantial IA pipeline + structural + the substantial IADOT bridge + the substantial Iowa-Illinois rail BNSF + UPRR welder.

Senior Ag Equipment Welder (John Deere Waterloo)

$58,000–$92,000+ OT

John Deere Waterloo Works · engine + transmission + cab + ag equipment welder · AWS D1.1 + UAW Local 838

Senior Aerospace Welder (Collins Aerospace)

$68,000–$108,000+ OT

Collins Aerospace Cedar Rapids · avionics + comms precision welder · cleared facility + AS9100 + NAS 410

Senior Industrial Welder (Vermeer Pella)

$55,000–$88,000+ OT

Vermeer Pella · balers + chippers + horizontal directional drilling welder · AWS D1.1 + AWS D14

Senior Boilermaker (Local 83 / Local 1)

$72,000–$128,000+ OT

Boilermakers Local 83 Kansas City regional + Local 1 Chicago + power + industrial boiler · prevailing wage

Food Processing Welder (ADM / Cargill / Tyson)

$55,000–$85,000+ OT

ADM + Cargill corn processing + ethanol + Tyson + Smithfield meat processing stainless · ASME BPE + sanitary

Pipeline Welder (X-Ray Certified)

$62,000–$118,000+ OT

Pipeline welder · x-ray + 6G + API 1104 + IA gas + ethanol pipeline + the substantial IA midstream

RV Manufacturing Welder (Winnebago)

$48,000–$78,000+ OT

Winnebago Forest City · RV manufacturing aluminum + steel chassis welder · AWS D1.2 aluminum

Senior Structural Welder (AISC / Bridge)

$52,000–$82,000+ OT

AISC structural welder · IADOT bridge + the substantial IA infrastructure + the substantial Mississippi River

Mid-Career Welder (3-6 yrs)

$40,000–$58,000+ OT

Mid-career welder transitioning to AWS + 6G + API certified · IA industrial shops

Entry Welder / Apprentice

$28,000–$42,000+ OT

Entry welder apprentice · DMACC + Kirkwood + Hawkeye + Iowa Western + Boilermakers Local 83 apprenticeship pipeline

Worth knowing: Iowa's John Deere Waterloo + Davenport + Dubuque + Des Moines Works ag equipment welder + Collins Aerospace Cedar Rapids + Vermeer Pella + Winnebago Forest City RV welder concentration is the country's substantial distinctive Midwest ag + aerospace + industrial welder cluster most national welder-career surveys understate. John Deere (the substantial Deere ~25K IA Deere employees + the substantial Deere Waterloo Works engine + transmission + cab assembly + the substantial Deere Davenport Works construction equipment + the substantial Deere Dubuque Works construction + forestry + the substantial Deere Des Moines Works drawn equipment + the substantial Deere Ottumwa Works tillage + the substantial Deere combine + tractor + cotton picker + the substantial Deere post-2024 Smart Industrial Strategy + the substantial Deere AWS D1.1 + AWS D14 ag equipment welder + the substantial Deere UAW Local 838 Waterloo + UAW Local 281 Davenport + UAW Local 838 collective bargaining premium + the substantial post-2023 UAW-John Deere contract) supports substantial IA ag equipment welder market — Deere Waterloo + Davenport senior ag equipment welders clear $58-92K + OT with AWS D1.1 + UAW collective bargaining + the substantial Deere prevailing wage. Collins Aerospace Cedar Rapids (Raytheon Technologies + ~10K Collins Cedar Rapids employees + the substantial Collins avionics + ARC-210 radio + the substantial Collins F-35 + F-22 + commercial aerospace electronics + the substantial Collins precision welder + cleared facility + AS9100 + NAS 410 aerospace) supports specialized aerospace welder work — Collins senior aerospace welders clear $68-108K with cleared facility + AS9100 + NAS 410. Vermeer Pella (ag + industrial equipment + ~3K Vermeer Pella employees + the substantial Vermeer family-owned + the substantial Vermeer balers + chippers + horizontal directional drilling + the substantial Vermeer post-2018 Pella plant expansion) supports specialized industrial welder work. Winnebago Industries Forest City (RV manufacturing + the substantial Winnebago Class A + Class C motorhome + the substantial Winnebago aluminum + steel chassis welder + AWS D1.2 aluminum) + HNI Corporation Muscatine (office furniture + the substantial HNI ~9K employees + Hearth + the substantial HNI metal welder) support specialized IA manufacturing welder work. ADM + Cargill corn processing + the substantial IA #1 US corn + the substantial IA ~30 ethanol plants + Quaker Oats + General Mills + Tyson + Smithfield meat processing support specialized food processing stainless welder work. Boilermakers Local 83 Kansas City regional + Boilermakers Local 1 Chicago cross-border + United Association Plumbers Pipefitters Local 33 Des Moines + UA Local 125 Cedar Rapids + IBEW Local 347 Des Moines + Ironworkers Local 67 Des Moines + Sheet Metal Workers Local 263 Cedar Rapids + the substantial IA building trades operate substantial collective bargaining at IA industrial + ag prevailing wage rates — though IA IS a Right-to-Work state (signed 1947 + one of earliest US RTW states) limiting union security clauses, the substantial IA building trades retain prevailing-wage public works contracts + the substantial Deere UAW + Collins union representation. AWS Certified Welder + 6G + API 1104 + ASME Section IX + AWS D1.1 + AWS D14 ag + AWS D1.2 aluminum + AS9100 + NAS 410 aerospace cert drive 30-60% wage premium. DMACC + Kirkwood + Hawkeye + Iowa Western + Indian Hills + Iowa Central + Boilermakers Local 83 apprenticeship pipeline. IA 3.8% flat (post-2024 HF 352) + IA 6% sales tax + IA NO estate tax + IA IS a Right-to-Work state anchor the IA welder proposition.