Waterloo Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Waterloo, IA: $22.80/hr median hourly wage, $47,430 median annual salary, cost of living index 82.5, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Iowa taxes.
Waterloo Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Waterloo, IA is $22.80/hr,and the median annual wage is $47,430. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.14/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $32.38/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metropolitan statistical area (84,260 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Waterloo shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$47,430
$22.80/hr
Cost of Living
82.5
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.1%
rate
Waterloo, IA Overview
Population
67,314
Median Salary
$47,430
Average Salary
$56,540
Avg Commute
19 min
Median Home Price
$135,000
Median Rent
$574/mo
Job Growth
+2.6%
Sales Tax
6%
Waterloo is located in Iowa with a population of 67,314. The median annual wage across all occupations is $47,430 ($22.80/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro), which is $3,550 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 +2.6%.
Waterloo Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Waterloo, IA built around the $47,430 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, 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 | $29,407 | $14.14/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $47,430 | $22.80/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $67,351 | $32.38/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $84,425 | $40.58/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.
Waterloo Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Waterloo, IA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,099
$3,258.29/month · $1,503.83/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.6%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,503.83 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
$47,430
Federal Tax
-$3,512
State Tax
-$1,191
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,628
Net Pay
$39,099
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,952.50 | $47,430.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$292.63 | -$3,511.60 |
| Iowa State Tax (2.51% eff.) | -$99.21 | -$1,190.54 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$245.05 | -$2,940.66 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$57.31 | -$687.74 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,258.29 | $39,099.47 |
Salary Comparison: Waterloo vs Other Cities
See how Waterloo's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | $47,430 | 82.5 | $57,491 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Cedar Falls, IA | $47,430 | 88 | $53,898 |
| North Port, FL | $47,440 | 96.6 | $49,110 |
| Bradenton, FL | $47,440 | 100.6 | $47,157 |
| Sarasota, FL | $47,440 | 96.5 | $49,161 |
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 Waterloo
Waterloo's cost of living index is 82.5 (national average = 100). Living in Waterloo is 17.5% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$135,000
Median Monthly Rent
$574
Annual Rent Cost
$6,888
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,099 annual take-home pay in Waterloo has the purchasing power of approximately $47,393 in an average-cost US area. Your $47,430 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Waterloo
Waterloo's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $47,430.
Salary Tips for Waterloo Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Waterloo has a cost of living 17.5% below the national average. A salary of $47,430 here has the purchasing power of about $57,491 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Waterloo's top industries include Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $47,430 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 Waterloo salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, 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 Waterloo indexed at 82.5.
- Median salary: $47,430 annual, $22.80 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA (84,260 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $56,540 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Waterloo was $35,785.
- Tax burden reflects Iowa 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 3.8%) (no local income tax), sales tax (6%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Waterloo: 3.1%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.6% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Iowa.
- Housing context: median home price $135,000, median rent $574/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Waterloo, IA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Waterloo unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Waterloo 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. Waterloo'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 Waterloo, IA?
The median hourly wage in Waterloo, IA is $22.80 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $47,430. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.14/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $32.38/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Waterloo, IA?
The median salary in Waterloo, IA is $47,430 per year, or $22.80 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $56,540. This is $3,550 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Waterloo, IA?
Waterloo's cost of living index is 82.5 (national average = 100), meaning it is 17.5% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $135,000 and the median monthly rent is $574.
What are the best industries in Waterloo?
The top industries in Waterloo, IA include Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance. The city has a job growth rate of 2.6% and an unemployment rate of 3.1%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $47,430.
How does Waterloo's salary compare to other cities?
Waterloo's median salary of $47,430 is 7.0% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 82.5), the real purchasing power is approximately $57,491.
What is the minimum wage in Waterloo, IA?
The minimum wage in Waterloo, 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.