The average salary for a ship loader in Iowa is around $51,450 per year.
Avg Salary
Ship loaders earn an average yearly salary of $51,450.
Wages typically start from $44,530 and go up to $66,840.
20% below national average Updated in 2025
Ship loader earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$32.13 per hour
$66,840 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$27.80 per hour
$57,820 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$24.74 per hour
$51,450 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$22.04 per hour
$45,840 per year
10th percentile
Starting level ship loader earnings begin at:
$21.41 per hour
$44,530 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Ship loader salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $81,320 |
| South Carolina | $80,700 |
| Montana | $80,070 |
| Minnesota | $76,620 |
| Alabama | $75,450 |
| Oregon | $74,040 |
| Massachusetts | $71,750 |
| New Hampshire | $70,030 |
| California | $68,600 |
| New Jersey | $64,890 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 |
| Texas | $61,170 |
| Louisiana | $58,900 |
| Michigan | $57,900 |
| Missouri | $57,750 |
| Ohio | $57,700 |
| Wisconsin | $57,250 |
| West Virginia | $54,750 |
| Utah | $53,370 |
| Kentucky | $53,160 |
| Iowa | $51,450 |
| Colorado | $51,200 |
| Georgia | $51,160 |
| Washington | $48,580 |
| New York | $48,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,120 |
| New Mexico | $48,010 |
| Tennessee | $46,640 |
| Nebraska | $46,300 |
| Florida | $45,540 |
| Hawaii | $45,240 |
| North Carolina | $44,910 |
| Indiana | $44,310 |
| Maine | $42,830 |
| Idaho | $41,700 |
| Virginia | $41,190 |
| Mississippi | $41,180 |
| Illinois | $37,240 |
| Oklahoma | $35,360 |
| Arizona | $34,860 |
| Arkansas | $33,800 |
| Kansas | $31,080 |
| Alaska | $26,140 |
| Wyoming | $101,790 |
How do ship loader salaries compare to similar careers?
Ship loaders earn about the same as related careers in Iowa. On average, they make less than maintenance workers but more than metal casters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Maintenance worker salary | $52K |
| Gem worker salary | $50K |
| Jeweler salary | $50K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $48K |
| Drywall installer salary | $51K |
| Ship loader salary | $51K |
| Roofer salary | $49K |
| Professional painter salary | $50K |
| Construction worker salary | $48K |
| Metal caster salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)