SOC 35-9011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers — Waterloo
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Waterloo, IA is $28,930 a year, trailing the national median of $33,980 by 14.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Waterloo, IA is $28,930 a year, trailing the national median of $33,980 by 14.9%. Half of workers earn between $21,650 and $33,880. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $17,910 and the ninetieth at $35,870.
The area has 210 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.73 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Davenport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $31,190. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 297th of 309 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,910 | −47.3% |
| 25th | $21,650 | −36.3% |
| Median (50th) | $28,930 | −14.9% |
| 75th | $33,880 | −0.3% |
| 90th | $35,870 | +5.6% |
| Mean | $27,810 | −18.2% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $31,190 | 360 | |
| 2 | Sioux City | $29,760 | 150 | |
| 3 | Ames | $29,630 | 110 | |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids | $29,020 | 320 | |
| 5 | Iowa City | $28,860 | 270 | |
| 6 | Des Moines | $27,730 | 790 | |
| 7 | Dubuque | $27,670 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Waterloo run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $28,930 goes as far as $32,950 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,950US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,930 a year, 14.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,910 to $35,870 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Davenport, at $31,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers in Waterloo, IA?
The median annual wage is $28,930, or $13.91 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $33,980, so pay in Waterloo, IA is 14.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Waterloo, IA earns more than $35,870 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,910 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Davenport, at $31,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 210 jobs in this occupation in Waterloo, IA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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