Bookkeeper salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Waterloo-Cedar Falls is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $47,540 a year1 is 1.3% below the Iowa statewide median of $48,180, and 6.2% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #261 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 580 people in this job here, 4% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $32,160 | $47,540 | $64,660 | |
| Iowa | $33,240 | $48,180 | $66,490 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $64,660, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls earns $40,010–$56,440. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $16,430 wide, between the figure for Iowa ($16,400) and the US figure ($17,950).
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,160 | $2,680 | $15.46 | $41,497 |
| 25th percentile | $40,010 | $3,334 | $19.24 | $51,626 |
| Median | $47,540 | $3,962 | $22.86 | $61,342 |
| 75th percentile | $56,440 | $4,703 | $27.13 | $72,826 |
| 90th percentile | $64,660 | $5,388 | $31.09 | $83,432 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,530 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,900, or about $11,484 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $50,670 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, and the Iowa statewide median of $48,180 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls
At the $47,540 median, a local hire costs about $61,342 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,802 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for bookkeepers we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Waterloo-Cedar Falls
Of the 17 roles we track in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between paralegals ($48,030) and administrative assistants ($46,230). Project Coordinator is the highest at $81,600.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +8.7% | 40 | |
| Paralegal | +1.0% | 120 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 580 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -2.8% | 720 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -4.2% | 60 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in Waterloo-Cedar Falls (-6.2%), between administrative assistants (-2.8%) and virtual receptionists (-6.4%). The typical role here is at -12.1%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Waterloo-Cedar Falls than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 9.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, 10.3% across Iowa and 8.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $46,600 in the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area to $50,610 in Des Moines-West Des Moines, a gap of $4,010 a year. Of the 9 areas in Iowa with more bookkeepers than Waterloo-Cedar Falls, 5 pay less, the largest of them the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area ($46,640), the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area ($46,870) and the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area ($46,680).
| Area | Median | vs Waterloo-Cedar Falls | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | +0.9% | 470 | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | +0.6% | 1,360 | |
| Dubuque, IA | +0.2% | 520 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | this area | 580 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | -0.3% | 690 | |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -1.4% | 1,620 | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | -1.8% | 1,130 |
Waterloo-Cedar Falls against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Waterloo-Cedar Falls is #392 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Iowa, York-Hanover and Provo-Orem pay just above Waterloo-Cedar Falls and Deltona-Daytona Beach and Battle Creek just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Waterloo-Cedar Falls. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Waterloo-Cedar Falls | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem, UT | +0.1% | 2,180 | pay | |
| York-Hanover, PA | +0.1% | 1,270 | pay | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | this area | 580 | ||
| Deltona-Daytona Beach, FL | -0.0% | 1,810 | pay | |
| Battle Creek, MI | -0.1% | 370 | pay | |
| Decatur, AL | -3.1% | 580 | jobs | |
| Las Cruces, NM | -6.5% | 580 | jobs | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -18.4% | 580 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About $61,342 a year at the median, or $5,112 a month: $47,540 in pay plus about $13,802 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
The median was $47,540 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,160, the 90th $64,660, and the middle half earned $40,010 to $56,440.
Is Waterloo-Cedar Falls cheaper than the rest of Iowa for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $47,540 against $48,180 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is Dubuque at $47,630, the next down Sioux City at $47,390.
How many bookkeepers work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
BLS counts about 580 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Iowa total of 14,020. 9 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is Iowa City, with about 660.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than an administrative assistant in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Yes: $1,310 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,540 and $46,230.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.