SOC 25-2058 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — Waterloo
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · 6 metro areas compared
In Waterloo, IA the median wage is $59,760.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Waterloo, IA the median wage is $59,760. That is 19.5% lower than the national median of $74,260. Pay ranges from under $47,760 at the tenth percentile to more than $88,000 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $49,040 to $74,400.
Employment stands at 70, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Iowa City records the highest median at $62,760. Of the 309 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 134th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,760 | −35.7% |
| 25th | $49,040 | −34.0% |
| Median (50th) | $59,760 | −19.5% |
| 75th | $74,400 | +0.2% |
| 90th | $88,000 | +18.5% |
| Mean | $63,060 | −15.1% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $62,760 | 80 | |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $62,110 | 200 | |
| 3 | Sioux City | $61,830 | 50 | |
| 4 | Davenport | $61,710 | 170 | |
| 5 | Des Moines | $60,310 | 580 | |
| 6 | Dubuque | $58,950 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Waterloo run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $59,760 goes as far as $68,064 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,760as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$68,064US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,760 a year, 19.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,760 to $88,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Iowa City, at $62,760.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Waterloo, IA?
The median annual wage is $59,760, 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 $74,260, so pay in Waterloo, IA is 19.5% 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 $88,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,760 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 Iowa City, at $62,760 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 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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