Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Each occupation's median wage in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$97,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,130 – $97,770+63.4%
2Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$90,230
Bachelor's degree
$65,000 – $97,380+36.2%
3Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$103,680
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,020 – $103,680+33.5%
4Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$56,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $56,150+28.9%
5Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,520 – $65,580+27.5%
6Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,380 – $55,590+25.3%
7Helpers--Production Workers$48,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,900 – $50,030+24.2%
8Industrial Machinery Mechanics$77,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,210 – $79,350+20.7%
9Production Workers, All Other$48,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,910 – $53,820+20.4%
10Parts Salespersons$45,930
No formal educational credential
$29,320 – $63,730+18.9%
11Highway Maintenance Workers$59,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,700 – $62,570+18.1%
12Public Safety Telecommunicators$62,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,750 – $65,980+18.0%
13Family Medicine Physicians$287,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,760 – $386,990+17.9%
14Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$47,440
No formal educational credential
$35,530 – $48,440+17.9%
15Driver/Sales Workers$44,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,190 – $64,210+15.9%
16Foundry Mold and Coremakers$54,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,460 – $54,960+14.2%
17Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$54,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,150 – $62,620+13.7%
18Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$50,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,160 – $61,680+12.7%
19Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers$53,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,080 – $59,890+12.4%
20Painters, Construction and Maintenance$55,000
No formal educational credential
$37,850 – $71,930+11.3%
21Property Appraisers and Assessors$75,670
Bachelor's degree
$47,350 – $437,710+11.3%
22File Clerks$48,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,340 – $62,660+11.2%
23Physicians, All Other$295,200
Doctoral or professional degree
$211,410 – $446,700+11.0%
24Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$60,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,130 – $60,060+10.3%
25Data Entry Keyers$45,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,910 – $54,240+10.1%
26Coaches and Scouts$51,890
Bachelor's degree
$19,560 – $120,320+9.7%
27Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$69,920
Bachelor's degree
$44,440 – $99,220+9.6%
28Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$62,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,980 – $77,720+9.6%
29Maintenance Workers, Machinery$65,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,350 – $77,570+8.1%
30Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$38,550
No formal educational credential
$24,160 – $50,470+8.1%
31Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$102,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,740 – $115,470+7.7%
32Agricultural Equipment Operators$44,810
No formal educational credential
$35,150 – $63,820+7.4%
33Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,940 – $59,750+7.1%
34Library Technicians$47,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,310 – $61,130+6.9%
35Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,840 – $64,730+6.8%
36Tire Repairers and Changers$40,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,250 – $47,860+6.7%
37Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,320
Associate's degree
$48,470 – $86,850+6.7%
38Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$63,230
Master's degree
$43,200 – $100,220+6.5%
39Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$57,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $68,390+6.4%
40Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,310 – $75,730+6.4%
41Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,350 – $73,930+6.2%
42Food Batchmakers$44,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,510 – $54,080+6.1%
43Construction Laborers$49,950
No formal educational credential
$38,180 – $72,500+6.0%
44Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$51,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,890 – $63,190+5.5%
45Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$61,570
No formal educational credential
$50,770 – $75,030+5.3%
46Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,930
Associate's degree
$56,830 – $120,720+4.8%
47Instructional Coordinators$81,190
Master's degree
$58,290 – $91,830+4.8%
48Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$46,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,660 – $62,500+3.7%
49Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,870 – $92,990+3.6%
50Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$66,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,490 – $85,490+3.3%

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	vs. national
1	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,770	$55,130 – $97,770	+63.4%
2	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$90,230	$65,000 – $97,380	+36.2%
3	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$103,680	$64,020 – $103,680	+33.5%
4	Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,100	$46,760 – $56,150	+28.9%
5	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$47,520 – $65,580	+27.5%
6	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,550	$47,380 – $55,590	+25.3%
7	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,520	$40,900 – $50,030	+24.2%
8	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,850	$51,210 – $79,350	+20.7%
9	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,300	$38,910 – $53,820	+20.4%
10	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$45,930	$29,320 – $63,730	+18.9%
11	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,380	$46,700 – $62,570	+18.1%
12	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,570	$51,750 – $65,980	+18.0%
13	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$287,990	$75,760 – $386,990	+17.9%
14	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$47,440	$35,530 – $48,440	+17.9%
15	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,920	$23,190 – $64,210	+15.9%
16	Foundry Mold and CoremakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,920	$50,460 – $54,960	+14.2%
17	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,470	$47,150 – $62,620	+13.7%
18	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,310	$40,160 – $61,680	+12.7%
19	Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,340	$37,080 – $59,890	+12.4%
20	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$55,000	$37,850 – $71,930	+11.3%
21	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$75,670	$47,350 – $437,710	+11.3%
22	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,490	$39,340 – $62,660	+11.2%
23	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$295,200	$211,410 – $446,700	+11.0%
24	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,020	$53,130 – $60,060	+10.3%
25	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,520	$35,910 – $54,240	+10.1%
26	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$51,890	$19,560 – $120,320	+9.7%
27	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$69,920	$44,440 – $99,220	+9.6%
28	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,000	$42,980 – $77,720	+9.6%
29	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,760	$54,350 – $77,570	+8.1%
30	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$38,550	$24,160 – $50,470	+8.1%
31	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,680	$64,740 – $115,470	+7.7%
32	Agricultural Equipment OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$44,810	$35,150 – $63,820	+7.4%
33	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,600	$37,940 – $59,750	+7.1%
34	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,670	$30,310 – $61,130	+6.9%
35	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,400	$36,840 – $64,730	+6.8%
36	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,250	$30,250 – $47,860	+6.7%
37	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,320	$48,470 – $86,850	+6.7%
38	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$63,230	$43,200 – $100,220	+6.5%
39	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,660	$46,040 – $68,390	+6.4%
40	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,890	$50,310 – $75,730	+6.4%
41	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,430	$39,350 – $73,930	+6.2%
42	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,860	$29,510 – $54,080	+6.1%
43	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$49,950	$38,180 – $72,500	+6.0%
44	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,250	$37,890 – $63,190	+5.5%
45	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$61,570	$50,770 – $75,030	+5.3%
46	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,930	$56,830 – $120,720	+4.8%
47	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$81,190	$58,290 – $91,830	+4.8%
48	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,950	$32,660 – $62,500	+3.7%
49	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,970	$58,870 – $92,990	+3.6%
50	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,000	$35,490 – $85,490	+3.3%

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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.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

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