StateRates

Waterloo-Cedar Falls salaries

The median worker in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earned $46,580 a year in 2024, about $22.39 an hour. That ranks #201 of the 391 metro areas published here, 5.9% below the national median.

Iowa

Median pay $46,580 $22.39 per hour
Vs national -5.9% U.S. $49,500
Workers 85,420 wage and salary
Metro rank #201 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Waterloo-Cedar Falls pays 2.3% less than Iowa as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 6.07× 600 $48,420
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 2.54× 600 $47,630
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 2.34× 770 $49,220
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 2.29× 570 $34,410
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 2.07× 1,670 $48,120
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1.95× 3,220 $43,380
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1.91× 2,330 $42,390
Nursing Assistants 1.81× 1,400 $38,090
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 1.55× 1,180 $27,380
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1.52× 580 $75,420
Cashiers 1.47× 2,560 $29,270
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1.46× 1,670 $52,830

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Nurse Practitioners $127,410 $61.25 210
Financial Managers $116,030 $55.79 390
Industrial Engineers $109,520 $52.65 360
Industrial Production Managers $102,760 $49.40 200
Software Developers $102,510 $49.28 270
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other $98,620 n/a 220
Mechanical Engineers $97,570 $46.91 290
Medical and Health Services Managers $96,220 $46.26 390
Education Administrators, Postsecondary $89,890 $43.21 250
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $84,730 $40.74 300
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $84,130 $40.45 420
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $83,500 $40.14 330
Project Management Specialists $80,990 $38.94 210
General and Operations Managers $76,150 $36.61 1,660
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $76,010 $36.55 440
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $75,420 $36.26 580
Accountants and Auditors $71,200 $34.23 550
Registered Nurses $69,680 $33.50 1,960
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $66,040 $31.75 240
Electricians $64,700 $31.11 370
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $63,960 $30.75 310
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $63,010 $30.29 370
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $62,860 $30.22 730
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $61,860 $29.74 210
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $61,090 $29.37 250
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $60,420 $29.05 240
Human Resources Specialists $59,970 $28.83 340
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $59,140 n/a 380
Computer User Support Specialists $58,320 $28.04 330
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $58,280 n/a 820
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $58,040 n/a 640
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $57,940 $27.86 270
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $57,830 $27.81 500
Insurance Sales Agents $57,750 $27.77 200
Postal Service Mail Carriers $57,710 $27.75 210
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $56,820 $27.32 330
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $56,540 $27.18 380
Machinists $56,500 $27.16 200
Carpenters $53,130 $25.55 310
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $52,830 $25.40 1,670
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $51,200 $24.62 920
Training and Development Specialists $49,540 $23.82 350
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,220 $23.66 770
Helpers--Production Workers $48,830 $23.48 430
Production Workers, All Other $48,700 $23.41 440
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $48,420 $23.28 600
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters $48,240 $23.19 250
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $48,120 $23.14 1,670
Construction Laborers $47,930 $23.04 620
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $47,910 $23.04 430
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $47,630 $22.90 600
Coaches and Scouts $47,360 n/a 300
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $47,320 $22.75 210
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $47,130 $22.66 640
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $46,770 $22.49 510
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $45,630 $21.94 590
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $45,520 $21.89 200
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $44,980 $21.62 390
Medical Assistants $44,830 $21.56 350
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $44,690 $21.49 710

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Waterloo-Cedar Falls by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 3,220 $43,380 $20.85
Cashiers 2,560 $29,270 $14.07
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 2,330 $42,390 $20.38
Retail Salespersons 2,150 $29,920 $14.39
Fast Food and Counter Workers 2,080 $28,080 $13.50
Registered Nurses 1,960 $69,680 $33.50
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 1,670 $48,120 $23.14
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,670 $52,830 $25.40
General and Operations Managers 1,660 $76,150 $36.61
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,600 $37,320 $17.94
Customer Service Representatives 1,410 $40,520 $19.48
Nursing Assistants 1,400 $38,090 $18.31
Office Clerks, General 1,340 $42,400 $20.39
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 1,250 $34,630 $16.65
Waiters and Waitresses 1,190 $25,470 $12.25
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 1,180 $27,380 n/a
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 920 $51,200 $24.62
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 820 $58,280 n/a
Cooks, Restaurant 780 $35,170 $16.91
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 770 $49,220 $23.66

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Iowa metro areas

Waterloo-Cedar Falls pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?

The median across all occupations is $46,580, or $22.39 an hour, covering 85,420 wage and salary workers. The mean is $55,470, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Waterloo-Cedar Falls pay more than the rest of Iowa?

No. The metro median of $46,580 is 2.3% below the Iowa median of $47,670. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?

Nurse Practitioners ($127,410), Financial Managers ($116,030), Industrial Engineers ($109,520). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Waterloo-Cedar Falls unusually full of?

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators, at 6.07× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.