Cedar Rapids Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Cedar Rapids, IA: $23.73/hr median hourly wage, $49,360 median annual salary, cost of living index 87, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Iowa taxes.
Cedar Rapids Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Cedar Rapids, IA is $23.73/hr,and the median annual wage is $49,360. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.71/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $33.70/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Cedar Rapids, IA metropolitan statistical area (139,260 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Cedar Rapids shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$49,360
$23.73/hr
Cost of Living
87
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3%
rate
Cedar Rapids, IA Overview
Population
137,710
Median Salary
$49,360
Average Salary
$60,700
Avg Commute
19 min
Median Home Price
$195,000
Median Rent
$950/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
7%
Cedar Rapids is located in Iowa with a population of 137,710. The median annual wage across all occupations is $49,360 ($23.73/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Cedar Rapids, IA metro), which is $1,620 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 19 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
Cedar Rapids Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Cedar Rapids, IA built around the $49,360 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Cedar Rapids, IA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,603 | $14.71/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $49,360 | $23.73/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $70,091 | $33.70/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $87,861 | $42.24/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Cedar Rapids Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Cedar Rapids, IA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,577
$3,381.41/month · $1,560.65/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.8%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,560.65 take-home per paycheck after estimated Iowa and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$49,360
Federal Tax
-$3,743
State Tax
-$1,264
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,776
Net Pay
$40,577
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,113.33 | $49,360.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$311.93 | -$3,743.20 |
| Iowa State Tax (2.56% eff.) | -$105.32 | -$1,263.88 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$255.03 | -$3,060.32 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$59.64 | -$715.72 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,381.41 | $40,576.88 |
Salary Comparison: Cedar Rapids vs Other Cities
See how Cedar Rapids's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $49,360 | 87 | $56,736 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Marion, IA | $49,360 | 81 | $60,938 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $49,340 | 91 | $54,220 |
| Carmel, IN | $49,340 | 110 | $44,855 |
| Fishers, IN | $49,340 | 105 | $46,990 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 87 (national average = 100). Living in Cedar Rapids is 13% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$195,000
Median Monthly Rent
$950
Annual Rent Cost
$11,400
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,577 annual take-home pay in Cedar Rapids has the purchasing power of approximately $46,640 in an average-cost US area. Your $49,360 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $49,360.
Salary Tips for Cedar Rapids Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Cedar Rapids has a cost of living 13% below the national average. A salary of $49,360 here has the purchasing power of about $56,736 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Cedar Rapids's top industries include Manufacturing, Finance, Technology. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $49,360 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Cedar Rapids salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Cedar Rapids, IA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Cedar Rapids indexed at 87.
- Median salary: $49,360 annual, $23.73 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Cedar Rapids, IA MSA (139,260 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $60,700 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Cedar Rapids was $58,500.
- Tax burden reflects Iowa 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 3.8%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Cedar Rapids: 3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Manufacturing, Finance, Technology, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Iowa.
- Housing context: median home price $195,000, median rent $950/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Cedar Rapids, IA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Cedar Rapids unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Cedar Rapids QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Iowa, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Cedar Rapids's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Iowa labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median hourly wage in Cedar Rapids, IA is $23.73 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Cedar Rapids, IA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $49,360. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.71/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $33.70/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median salary in Cedar Rapids, IA is $49,360 per year, or $23.73 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Cedar Rapids, IA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $60,700. This is $1,620 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 87 (national average = 100), meaning it is 13% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $195,000 and the median monthly rent is $950.
What are the best industries in Cedar Rapids?
The top industries in Cedar Rapids, IA include Manufacturing, Finance, Technology. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $49,360.
How does Cedar Rapids's salary compare to other cities?
Cedar Rapids's median salary of $49,360 is 3.2% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 87), the real purchasing power is approximately $56,736.
What is the minimum wage in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The minimum wage in Cedar Rapids, IA is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.