Iowa Career & Training Directory
Explore 218 careers with Iowa-specific salary data, licensing requirements, and 15 accredited schools.
Top Careers in Iowa
Iowa's Agriculture, Wind Energy, and Healthcare Sectors Offer Steady Career Growth
Iowa is the nation's leading producer of corn, soybeans, pork, and eggs, and its agricultural economy sustains a large workforce in food processing, ag equipment service, and precision agriculture technology. The state has also become a national leader in wind energy generation — over 60% of Iowa's electricity comes from wind — creating substantial demand for wind turbine technicians. Healthcare anchors the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids metros. John Deere's Waterloo operations make Iowa a significant advanced manufacturing state. Wages run 5–8% below national medians.
Registered Nurse
- Median Salary
- $62,800/yr
- Job Growth
- +5.9% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 2–4 years (ADN or BSN)
Wind Turbine Technician
- Median Salary
- $61,200/yr
- Job Growth
- +44.3% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 2-year associate degree
Agricultural Equipment Technician
- Median Salary
- $50,400/yr
- Job Growth
- +5.3% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 2-year associate degree
Electrician
- Median Salary
- $61,800/yr
- Job Growth
- +9.7% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 4–5 years (apprenticeship)
Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
- Median Salary
- $54,600/yr
- Job Growth
- +7.0% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 1–2 year certificate + apprenticeship
Licensed Practical Nurse
- Median Salary
- $46,800/yr
- Job Growth
- +5.6% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 12–18 months (certificate)
Salary figures based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024/2025. Growth projections from BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032. State figures reflect Iowa-specific wage data; individual employer pay varies.
Airline Pilot (Career Track) / Flight Student
DevOps Engineer / Site Reliability Engineer
Cybersecurity Analyst
Cloud Technician / Cloud Engineer
Construction Manager / Superintendent
Database Administrator (DBA)
Schools in Iowa
Kirkwood Community College
Iowa's largest community college with 12,763 students. Consistently ranked among the nation's best community colleges. L...
Des Moines Area Community College
Iowa's largest community college by enrollment (23,700+ students). Multiple campuses across central Iowa. Accredited by ...
Hawkeye Community College
Northeast Iowa community college serving the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro. ADA and APTA accreditation alongside HLC. Stron...
Iowa Central Community College
North-central Iowa community college. JRCERT and NLNAC accreditation for radiologic technology and nursing. Serves rural...
About Iowa's Job Market
Iowa's economy supports a strong demand for trained vocational professionals across healthcare, construction, technology, and transportation. The state's growing population drives steady openings for allied health workers, skilled tradespeople, and tech professionals.