"How long does it take to become a construction trades worker in Iowa?"

"Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for construction trades workers in Iowa?"

"In Iowa, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Construction Trades Worker in Iowa

Q: "How much do construction trades workers earn in Iowa?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction trades workers in Iowa earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,490. Employment concentration in Iowa is about 1.25 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Iowa?"

"Iowa currently employs approximately 13,780 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Iowa construction laborers earn a median annual wage of $48,490 ($23.31/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 13,780 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.9% above the national median of $47,120 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $48,490 ($23.31/hr)
25th percentile: $45,560 per year
75th percentile: $58,470 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $68,900 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,180 per year
Workers employed in Iowa: 13,780
Versus national median: 2.9% above the U.S. median of $47,120
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.25 - this occupation is more concentrated in Iowa than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Iowa employs approximately 13,780 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,490 ¹. The state’s concentration of construction trades worker jobs is 1.25x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a construction trades worker in Iowa, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Construction Trades Worker in Iowa

How do I become a construction trades worker in Iowa? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in Iowa.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in Iowa? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Iowa is $48,490 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,180 and experienced professionals can earn $68,900 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Iowa): $48,490 per year ¹

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in Iowa

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Iowa’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Iowa Workforce Development
Address: 1000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 725-3675
Email: [email protected]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), construction laborers wages in Iowa vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	3,990	$48,300	$49,570	$37,360	$62,750
Des Moines-West Des Moines	3,510	$49,980	$54,000	$40,080	$72,370
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	1,320	$54,380	$58,180	$38,040	$78,940
Cedar Rapids	990	$48,670	$51,910	$37,930	$70,310
Iowa City	800	$47,940	$52,070	$37,500	$74,570
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	710	$49,950	$53,210	$38,180	$72,500
Ames	600	$49,810	$52,140	$39,950	$71,380
Sioux City	560	$48,630	$53,010	$37,980	$74,390
Dubuque	500	$48,800	$53,560	$38,770	$76,540

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Construction trades workers in Iowa

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest construction trades worker employment within Iowa according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Des Moines-West Des Moines	3,510	$49,980
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	1,320	$54,380
Cedar Rapids	990	$48,670
Iowa City	800	$47,940
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	710	$49,950

Explore More Trades in Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 13,780 construction trades workers ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Iowa? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Iowa. You can also contact the Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Iowa is $48,490, which is $1,760 above the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Iowa Office of Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/registered-apprenticeship ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)