Highest paying jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
The best paying occupations in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.
Cost of living: prices here run 12.9% below the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianWaterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $295,200 | $211,410 – $446,700 | 90 |
| 2 | Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $287,990 | $75,760 – $386,990 | 130 |
| 3 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $199,010 | $76,450 – $380,670 | 110 |
| 4 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $163,600 | $101,000 – $219,740 | 60 |
| 5 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $140,340 | $102,250 – $193,680 | 60 |
| 6 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $138,690 | $103,960 – $165,500 | 160 |
| 7 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $132,880 | $100,430 – $191,900 | 60 |
| 8 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $132,210 | $100,520 – $202,470 | 120 |
| 9 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $130,740 | $77,910 – $164,410 | 60 |
| 10 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $126,570 | $63,800 – $360,480 | 160 |
| 11 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $126,330 | $104,330 – $172,420 | 260 |
| 12 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $125,970 | $83,630 – $201,870 | 80 |
| 13 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $125,690 | $80,800 – $216,490 | 370 |
| 14 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $125,050 | $69,140 – $215,620 | 150 |
| 15 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $114,940 | $74,350 – $184,160 | 80 |
| 16 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $113,970 | $64,640 – $167,230 | 280 |
| 17 | Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree | $107,660 | $35,850 – $187,200 | 140 |
| 18 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $106,660 | $72,490 – $122,030 | 90 |
| 19 | Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree | $106,350 | $65,210 – $143,160 | 30 |
| 20 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree | $104,530 | $56,320 – $179,010 | 70 |
| 21 | Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $103,680 | $64,020 – $103,680 | 250 |
| 22 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $103,330 | $75,670 – $187,330 | 340 |
| 23 | Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree | $103,180 | $76,960 – $140,920 | 160 |
| 24 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $102,810 | $76,270 – $173,400 | 170 |
| 25 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $102,680 | $64,740 – $115,470 | 50 |
| 26 | Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $100,240 | $48,170 – $210,350 | 100 |
| 27 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $99,530 | $61,880 – $171,760 | 150 |
| 28 | Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree | $98,240 | $74,770 – $116,190 | 80 |
| 29 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $97,770 | $55,130 – $97,770 | 420 |
| 30 | Civil EngineersBachelor's degree | $97,430 | $61,680 – $128,360 | 110 |
| 31 | Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree | $97,180 | $74,860 – $119,240 | 120 |
| 32 | Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $96,440 | $59,650 – $119,600 | 40 |
| 33 | Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree | $95,470 | $60,990 – $135,160 | 130 |
| 34 | Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $94,440 | $55,790 – $164,090 | 50 |
| 35 | Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree | $93,620 | $59,720 – $150,500 | 40 |
| 36 | Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree | $92,330 | $73,980 – $125,780 | 120 |
| 37 | Construction ManagersBachelor's degree | $92,100 | $69,390 – $151,690 | 110 |
| 38 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $91,250 | $64,870 – $138,830 | 140 |
| 39 | Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree | $90,520 | $42,960 – $286,560 | 120 |
| 40 | Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $90,230 | $65,000 – $97,380 | 80 |
| 41 | Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree | $88,770 | $65,750 – $130,560 | 190 |
| 42 | Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $85,100 | $52,120 – $105,410 | 50 |
| 43 | Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree | $85,060 | $59,960 – $169,800 | 190 |
| 44 | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree | $84,920 | $55,160 – $125,360 | 90 |
| 45 | Management AnalystsBachelor's degree | $83,850 | $38,830 – $125,990 | 140 |
| 46 | Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree | $82,500 | $76,770 – $93,890 | 130 |
| 47 | General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree | $82,400 | $41,870 – $170,250 | 1,510 |
| 48 | Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree | $82,260 | $60,530 – $126,110 | 150 |
| 49 | Data ScientistsBachelor's degree | $82,050 | $63,380 – $153,050 | 70 |
| 50 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $81,930 | $56,830 – $120,720 | 30 |