SOC 35-3023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Fast Food and Counter Workers — Waterloo
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Waterloo, IA is $27,820 a year, trailing the national median of $31,200 by 10.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Waterloo, IA is $27,820 a year, trailing the national median of $31,200 by 10.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $26,110 and $31,740. The lowest tenth earn under $21,720, while the highest tenth earn more than $35,870.
The area has 2,500 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.20 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Davenport records the highest median at $31,200. Of the 309 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 302nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,720 | −30.4% |
| 25th | $26,110 | −16.3% |
| Median (50th) | $27,820 | −10.8% |
| 75th | $31,740 | +1.7% |
| 90th | $35,870 | +15.0% |
| Mean | $28,660 | −8.1% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $31,200 | 4,810 | |
| 2 | Ames | $29,220 | 1,620 | |
| 3 | Des Moines | $29,140 | 10,060 | |
| 4 | Sioux City | $29,090 | 2,060 | |
| 5 | Iowa City | $28,760 | 2,890 | |
| 6 | Dubuque | $28,680 | 1,600 | |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids | $28,280 | 3,590 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Waterloo run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $27,820 goes as far as $31,686 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,686US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,820 a year, 10.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $21,720 to $35,870 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,500 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Davenport, at $31,200.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in Waterloo, IA?
The median annual wage is $27,820, or $13.38 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 $31,200, so pay in Waterloo, IA is 10.8% 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 $21,720 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 $31,200 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,500 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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