Food processing, agricultural equipment manufacturing and a full-scope state OSHA program shape safety-manager pay in Iowa, landing at an estimated median of $84,000 a year.
Iowa safety and EHS managers earn an estimated median of $84,000 a year, with most roles falling between $65,520 and $113,400. The figure scales the BLS national median for occupational health & safety specialists — $83,910 (SOC 19-5011, OES May 2024) — to Iowa’s wage level; actual pay still varies with industry, employer size, certifications and experience. Food and meat processing is one of the state’s largest employers of safety staff, alongside agricultural equipment manufacturing — Iowa is home to major farm-machinery plants — and a growing wind-turbine component manufacturing sector. Grain handling and confined-space hazards tied to agriculture also shape a lot of the EHS work here, which differs meaningfully from a typical office-adjacent safety role. Cost of living across most of Iowa sits below the national median, so the salary figure tends to stretch further than the same number would in a higher-cost state.
EHS hiring concentrates around Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport. Des Moines draws from a mix of food processing, insurance-sector facilities operations and light manufacturing; Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities area (Davenport) lean more toward heavy manufacturing and agricultural equipment production.
Iowa runs its own OSHA-approved State Plan, Iowa OSHA, which covers both private-sector and state/local government employers and can adopt standards stricter than federal OSHA’s. Practically, that means Iowa safety managers are working to state-administered rules and inspections rather than dealing directly with federal OSHA.
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What's the median safety manager salary in Iowa?
Iowa safety and EHS managers earn an estimated median of about $84,000 a year, with a typical range of $65,520 to $113,400 depending on industry, employer size, certifications and experience, based on BLS national OES data scaled to Iowa's wage level.
Does Iowa have its own OSHA program?
Yes. Iowa OSHA is a full-scope State Plan covering both private-sector and state/local government employers, and it can set requirements stricter than federal OSHA. Employers and safety managers in Iowa work under the state program, not federal OSHA directly.
What industries hire the most safety managers in Iowa?
Food and meat processing is one of the largest employers of safety staff in the state, alongside agricultural equipment manufacturing and a growing wind-energy component manufacturing sector. Grain handling and confined-space hazards specific to agriculture also shape a lot of the day-to-day EHS work here.
Is Iowa's cost of living a factor in this salary?
It's worth accounting for. Iowa's cost of living sits below the national median in most of the state, so the estimated median salary tends to go further than the same dollar figure would in a higher-cost coastal state.
Salary figures are estimates derived from BLS national OES data scaled to state wage levels — not a guarantee or an offer. Verify current local data with BLS and employers. ← All states · Home