Production Operator Jobs in Iowa
Production Operator jobs in Iowa are concentrated in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport, where food processing, agricultural manufacturing, and industrial equipment production drive consistent demand at every level from entry-line to senior process operator. Major employers with deep Iowa roots include John Deere, Quaker Oats, and Tyson Foods, which run large-scale operations across the state year-round. The most in-demand specialties are food and beverage processing, feed and grain manufacturing, and precision machining. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Production Operator JobsOverview
Showing 4 of 52+ Production Operator jobs
Our Guardian Glass facility in DeWitt, IA is seeking their next Production Operator! We have openings in a few different departments. We are seeking driven individuals who are willing to learn. Experience is not necessary; we will train you!
For this role, we will pay $21/hr. to start, $21.50/hr. at six months, and $22.00/hr. at the 1 year of service. You have the ability to get paid daily!
Hours:
- 12 Hour Shift (5:45 to 6:00) rotating days and nights
Our Team
At Guardian Glass in DeWitt our team prioritizes safety and creating an environment for growth and innovation. We will give you the tools you need to succeed and grow! If you are a safety-oriented person with a commitment to attendance excellence, we look forward to hearing from you. Step into a career with Guardian Industries and come see what we have to offer!
What You Will Do
- Support site safety goals and procedures to minimize hazards
- Embrace and manage change to drive process improvements
- Operate and troubleshoot equipment utilized during daily manufacturing
- Prepare final products for shipping and distribution
- Understand and execute daily run schedules, resolve quality issues, and report/escalate unresolved issues immediately
- Actively contribute to setting team goals and manage assignments effectively
- Ensure high quality of products, and housekeeping standards are maintained
- Perform tasks such as lifting/pushing/pulling up to 75 pounds, walking, climbing, stooping, and standing, up to 12 hours/day, in a non-climate-controlled environment
What Will Put You Ahead
- One or more years of experience working in a manufacturing or industrial environment
- Six months or more of machine operator experience
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
Hiring Philosophy
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .
Who We Are
As a Koch company, Guardian Glass is one of the world's largest manufacturers of float, value-added and fabricated glass products and solutions. We produce high-performance glass for architectural, residential, interior, transportation and technical glass applications. You'll find our glass in homes, offices and cars and in some of the world's most iconic projects.
Our Benefits
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
Equal Opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, all offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquà , or tu ).
Our Guardian Glass facility in DeWitt, IA is seeking their next Production Operator! We have openings in a few different departments. We are seeking driven individuals who are willing to learn. Experience is not necessary; we will train you!
For this role, we will pay $21/hr. to start, $21.50/hr. at six months, and $22.00/hr. at the 1 year of service. You have the ability to get paid daily!
Hours:
- 12 Hour Shift (5:45 to 6:00) rotating days and nights
Our Team
At Guardian Glass in DeWitt our team prioritizes safety and creating an environment for growth and innovation. We will give you the tools you need to succeed and grow! If you are a safety-oriented person with a commitment to attendance excellence, we look forward to hearing from you. Step into a career with Guardian Industries and come see what we have to offer!
What You Will Do
- Support site safety goals and procedures to minimize hazards
- Embrace and manage change to drive process improvements
- Operate and troubleshoot equipment utilized during daily manufacturing
- Prepare final products for shipping and distribution
- Understand and execute daily run schedules, resolve quality issues, and report/escalate unresolved issues immediately
- Actively contribute to setting team goals and manage assignments effectively
- Ensure high quality of products, and housekeeping standards are maintained
- Perform tasks such as lifting/pushing/pulling up to 75 pounds, walking, climbing, stooping, and standing, up to 12 hours/day, in a non-climate-controlled environment
What Will Put You Ahead
- One or more years of experience working in a manufacturing or industrial environment
- Six months or more of machine operator experience
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
Hiring Philosophy
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .
Who We Are
As a Koch company, Guardian Glass is one of the world's largest manufacturers of float, value-added and fabricated glass products and solutions. We produce high-performance glass for architectural, residential, interior, transportation and technical glass applications. You'll find our glass in homes, offices and cars and in some of the world's most iconic projects.
Our Benefits
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
Equal Opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, all offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquà , or tu ).
See All 52 Production Operator Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Production Operator JobsProduction Operator Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Production Operator Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in production operator jobs across Iowa.
- High school diploma or GED recognized by an Iowa-accredited institution
- Ability to operate and monitor production line equipment safely and efficiently
- Familiarity with food safety or HACCP protocols common in Iowa processing plants
- Physical ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to fifty pounds
- Experience with quality control checks, measurements, and production recordkeeping
- Willingness to work rotating shifts including nights and weekends as scheduled
Production Operator Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a production operator in Iowa?
Most production operator roles in Iowa require a high school diploma or GED and are filled through on-the-job training provided by the employer. There is no state-issued license specific to the role, but candidates working in food processing plants are expected to complete HACCP and food safety training, which many Iowa employers administer internally. Starting in entry-level line positions at manufacturers like John Deere, Quaker Oats, or regional co-ops is the most common path to advancing into full operator roles.
Which companies hire production operators in Iowa?
Iowa production operator roles are posted by Land O'Lakes, Nordex, and USG and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Iowa's strength in food processing, agricultural equipment, and industrial manufacturing means openings are spread across both major metros and smaller manufacturing towns throughout the state.
Which Iowa cities have the most production operator jobs?
Fort Dodge, West Branch, and Dyersville lead Iowa in production operator openings. Des Moines anchors the market with a broad mix of food processing, consumer goods, and industrial manufacturing employers, while Cedar Rapids and Davenport are driven by established operations in grain processing, agricultural equipment, and packaged food production that have kept production workforces large and steady for decades.
Are there remote production operator jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. Production operator work is inherently hands-on and tied to physical plant operations, so most roles require an on-site presence. About 0% of production operator openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those are typically limited to process monitoring or quality reporting functions that can be handled off the floor.
How can I get hired as a production operator in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to general labor or production associate openings at large Iowa manufacturers, which routinely hire without prior experience and train on the job. Employers like Tyson Foods, Quaker Oats, and regional agricultural cooperatives run structured onboarding for new hires moving into line positions. Community colleges such as Kirkwood and Des Moines Area Community College offer short manufacturing and industrial technology certificates that give candidates a clear edge when applying to these roles.
Where can I find and apply to production operator jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to production operator jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings across food processing, industrial manufacturing, and agricultural production. Find roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 52 Production Operator Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Production Operator Jobs