High paying jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA run 12.9% below the national average (2024), so a Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA salary is worth about 1.15× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

OccupationMedian, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,490 – $122,03090
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$102,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,740 – $115,47050
3Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$97,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,130 – $97,770420
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$91,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,870 – $138,830140
5Dental Hygienists$82,500
Associate's degree
$76,770 – $93,890130
6Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,930
Associate's degree
$56,830 – $120,72030
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,620
Associate's degree
$70,180 – $101,97040
8Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,870 – $92,990310
9Industrial Machinery Mechanics$77,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,210 – $79,350510
10First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$77,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,980 – $106,340360
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$77,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,170 – $108,390280
12First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$76,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,710 – $140,770130
13Power Plant Operators$76,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,010 – $103,06030
14Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$75,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,680 – $88,860110
15First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,360 – $101,060470
16First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$71,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,720 – $132,98030
17Construction and Building Inspectors$71,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,020 – $83,46050
18Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,320
Associate's degree
$48,470 – $86,85040
19Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $127,570780
20Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$66,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,490 – $85,49080
21Maintenance Workers, Machinery$65,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,350 – $77,57050
22Tool and Die Makers$65,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,980 – $76,830100
23Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,220 – $81,540190
24Respiratory Therapists$65,070
Associate's degree
$56,550 – $80,24070
25Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,370
Associate's degree
$48,800 – $81,790150
26Postal Service Clerks$63,970
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03040
27Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,310 – $75,730120
28Food Service Managers$63,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,040 – $103,150100
29Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,520 – $65,58060
30Electricians$63,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,160 – $83,150360
31Sheet Metal Workers$63,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,820 – $79,57080
32Physical Therapist Assistants$62,850
Associate's degree
$37,300 – $72,80060
33Public Safety Telecommunicators$62,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,750 – $65,98050
34Paramedics$62,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,000 – $62,35040
35Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$62,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,960 – $92,590220
36Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$62,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,980 – $77,72080
37Insurance Sales Agents$61,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,940 – $124,210230
38Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$61,570
No formal educational credential
$50,770 – $75,03060
39Occupational Therapy Assistants$61,560
Associate's degree
$47,670 – $74,32040
40Firefighters$61,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,230 – $85,01080
41First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,250 – $88,050500
42Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,120 – $98,390260
43Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$60,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,890 – $75,51060
44Crane and Tower Operators$60,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,070 – $80,15040
45Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$60,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,130 – $60,06080
46Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$59,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,730 – $74,530360
47Surgical Technologists$59,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,790 – $62,19040
48Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040200
49Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$59,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,950 – $81,500170
50First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,800 – $86,130330

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianWaterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,660	$72,490 – $122,030	90
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,680	$64,740 – $115,470	50
3	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,770	$55,130 – $97,770	420
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,250	$64,870 – $138,830	140
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,500	$76,770 – $93,890	130
6	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,930	$56,830 – $120,720	30
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,620	$70,180 – $101,970	40
8	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,970	$58,870 – $92,990	310
9	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,850	$51,210 – $79,350	510
10	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,760	$56,980 – $106,340	360
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,410	$48,170 – $108,390	280
12	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,910	$46,710 – $140,770	130
13	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,550	$60,010 – $103,060	30
14	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,610	$60,680 – $88,860	110
15	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,370	$48,360 – $101,060	470
16	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,490	$65,720 – $132,980	30
17	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,330	$45,020 – $83,460	50
18	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,320	$48,470 – $86,850	40
19	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,040	$37,380 – $127,570	780
20	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,000	$35,490 – $85,490	80
21	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,760	$54,350 – $77,570	50
22	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,590	$55,980 – $76,830	100
23	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,380	$47,220 – $81,540	190
24	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$65,070	$56,550 – $80,240	70
25	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,370	$48,800 – $81,790	150
26	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,970	$42,600 – $75,030	40
27	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,890	$50,310 – $75,730	120
28	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,650	$44,040 – $103,150	100
29	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$47,520 – $65,580	60
30	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,420	$40,160 – $83,150	360
31	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,240	$44,820 – $79,570	80
32	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,850	$37,300 – $72,800	60
33	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,570	$51,750 – $65,980	50
34	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,350	$48,000 – $62,350	40
35	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,200	$45,960 – $92,590	220
36	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,000	$42,980 – $77,720	80
37	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,860	$30,940 – $124,210	230
38	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$61,570	$50,770 – $75,030	60
39	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,560	$47,670 – $74,320	40
40	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,190	$46,230 – $85,010	80
41	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,420	$39,250 – $88,050	500
42	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,400	$39,120 – $98,390	260
43	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,330	$44,890 – $75,510	60
44	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,110	$60,070 – $80,150	40
45	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,020	$53,130 – $60,060	80
46	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,950	$50,730 – $74,530	360
47	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,910	$39,790 – $62,190	40
48	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	200
49	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,770	$45,950 – $81,500	170
50	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,660	$39,800 – $86,130	330

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA that need no degree

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