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

Every occupation here pays well in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$102,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,740 – $115,47050
2Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$97,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,130 – $97,770420
3Dental Hygienists$82,500
Associate's degree
$76,770 – $93,890130
4Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,930
Associate's degree
$56,830 – $120,72030
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,620
Associate's degree
$70,180 – $101,97040
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,870 – $92,990310
7Industrial Machinery Mechanics$77,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,210 – $79,350510
8Power Plant Operators$76,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,010 – $103,06030
9Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$75,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,680 – $88,860110
10Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,320
Associate's degree
$48,470 – $86,85040
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $127,570780
12Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$66,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,490 – $85,49080
13Maintenance Workers, Machinery$65,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,350 – $77,57050
14Tool and Die Makers$65,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,980 – $76,830100
15Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,220 – $81,540190
16Respiratory Therapists$65,070
Associate's degree
$56,550 – $80,24070
17Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,370
Associate's degree
$48,800 – $81,790150
18Postal Service Clerks$63,970
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03040
19Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,310 – $75,730120
20Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,520 – $65,58060
21Electricians$63,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,160 – $83,150360
22Sheet Metal Workers$63,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,820 – $79,57080
23Physical Therapist Assistants$62,850
Associate's degree
$37,300 – $72,80060
24Public Safety Telecommunicators$62,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,750 – $65,98050
25Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$62,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,960 – $92,590220
26Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$62,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,980 – $77,72080
27Insurance Sales Agents$61,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,940 – $124,210230
28Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$61,570
No formal educational credential
$50,770 – $75,03060
29Occupational Therapy Assistants$61,560
Associate's degree
$47,670 – $74,32040
30Firefighters$61,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,230 – $85,01080
31Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,120 – $98,390260
32Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$60,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,890 – $75,51060
33Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$60,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,130 – $60,06080
34Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$59,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,730 – $74,530360
35Surgical Technologists$59,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,790 – $62,19040
36Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040200
37Computer User Support Specialists$59,630
Some college, no degree
$42,620 – $84,060270
38Advertising Sales Agents$59,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,170 – $81,64040
39Computer Network Support Specialists$59,410
Associate's degree
$46,190 – $93,97070
40Highway Maintenance Workers$59,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,700 – $62,570140
41Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$59,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,280 – $96,150140
42Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,860
No formal educational credential
$48,070 – $73,55060
43Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,780 – $79,2201,600
44Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,850 – $75,030150
45Machinists$58,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,570 – $71,160180
46Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$57,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $68,39050
47Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$57,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,510 – $76,360160
48Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$57,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,690 – $106,030280
49Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$57,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,590 – $66,53040
50Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$56,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $56,150100

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	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,680	$64,740 – $115,470	50
2	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,770	$55,130 – $97,770	420
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,500	$76,770 – $93,890	130
4	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,930	$56,830 – $120,720	30
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,620	$70,180 – $101,970	40
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,970	$58,870 – $92,990	310
7	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,850	$51,210 – $79,350	510
8	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,550	$60,010 – $103,060	30
9	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,610	$60,680 – $88,860	110
10	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,320	$48,470 – $86,850	40
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,040	$37,380 – $127,570	780
12	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,000	$35,490 – $85,490	80
13	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,760	$54,350 – $77,570	50
14	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,590	$55,980 – $76,830	100
15	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,380	$47,220 – $81,540	190
16	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$65,070	$56,550 – $80,240	70
17	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,370	$48,800 – $81,790	150
18	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,970	$42,600 – $75,030	40
19	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,890	$50,310 – $75,730	120
20	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$47,520 – $65,580	60
21	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,420	$40,160 – $83,150	360
22	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,240	$44,820 – $79,570	80
23	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,850	$37,300 – $72,800	60
24	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,570	$51,750 – $65,980	50
25	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,200	$45,960 – $92,590	220
26	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,000	$42,980 – $77,720	80
27	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,860	$30,940 – $124,210	230
28	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$61,570	$50,770 – $75,030	60
29	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,560	$47,670 – $74,320	40
30	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,190	$46,230 – $85,010	80
31	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,400	$39,120 – $98,390	260
32	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,330	$44,890 – $75,510	60
33	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,020	$53,130 – $60,060	80
34	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,950	$50,730 – $74,530	360
35	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,910	$39,790 – $62,190	40
36	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	200
37	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,630	$42,620 – $84,060	270
38	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,440	$34,170 – $81,640	40
39	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$59,410	$46,190 – $93,970	70
40	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,380	$46,700 – $62,570	140
41	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,340	$49,280 – $96,150	140
42	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,860	$48,070 – $73,550	60
43	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,730	$37,780 – $79,220	1,600
44	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,190	$43,850 – $75,030	150
45	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,100	$45,570 – $71,160	180
46	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,660	$46,040 – $68,390	50
47	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,430	$44,510 – $76,360	160
48	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,370	$35,690 – $106,030	280
49	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,300	$39,590 – $66,530	40
50	Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,100	$46,760 – $56,150	100

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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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 experience

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