SOC 51-4081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Waterloo
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · 6 metro areas compared
At $50,400, median pay for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Waterloo, IA tracks the national median of $47,180 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $50,400, median pay for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Waterloo, IA tracks the national median of $47,180 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $46,440 and $54,780. The lowest tenth earn under $36,840, while the highest tenth earn more than $64,730.
The area has 220 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 3.30 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Sioux City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $54,980. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 175th of 309 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,840 | −21.9% |
| 25th | $46,440 | −1.6% |
| Median (50th) | $50,400 | +6.8% |
| 75th | $54,780 | +16.1% |
| 90th | $64,730 | +37.2% |
| Mean | $50,700 | +7.5% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux City | $54,980 | 80 | |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $53,940 | 530 | |
| 3 | Ames | $49,670 | 190 | |
| 4 | Dubuque | $49,180 | 290 | |
| 5 | Des Moines | $48,700 | 500 | |
| 6 | Davenport | $46,970 | 210 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Waterloo run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $50,400 goes as far as $57,403 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 21.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,400as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$57,403US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,400 a year, 6.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,840 to $64,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 220 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Sioux City, at $54,980.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Waterloo, IA?
The median annual wage is $50,400, or $24.23 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 $47,180, so pay in Waterloo, IA is 6.8% higher. 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 $64,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,840 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 Sioux City, at $54,980 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 220 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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