SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Waterloo
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Waterloo, IA is $21,490 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,230 — a gap of 39.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Waterloo, IA is $21,490 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,230 — a gap of 39.0%. Pay ranges from under $15,080 at the tenth percentile to more than $48,840 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $15,080 to $34,230.
The area has 1,280 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 15.2 of every thousand jobs. Davenport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $31,200. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 308th of 309 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,080 | −57.2% |
| 25th | $15,080 | −57.2% |
| Median (50th) | $21,490 | −39.0% |
| 75th | $34,230 | −2.8% |
| 90th | $48,840 | +38.6% |
| Mean | $26,300 | −25.3% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $31,200 | 2,680 | |
| 2 | Sioux City | $26,430 | 1,030 | |
| 3 | Ames | $22,710 | 1,010 | |
| 4 | Iowa City | $22,030 | 1,890 | |
| 5 | Cedar Rapids | $21,670 | 1,920 | |
| 6 | Des Moines | $20,410 | 6,250 | |
| 7 | Dubuque | $20,060 | 810 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Waterloo run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $21,490 goes as far as $24,476 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 30.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$21,490as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$24,476US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $21,490 a year, 39.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $15,080 to $48,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,280 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Davenport, at $31,200.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Waterloo, IA?
The median annual wage is $21,490, or $10.33 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 $35,230, so pay in Waterloo, IA is 39.0% 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 $48,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $15,080 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 1,280 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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