Cost of hiring in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, with about 1,540 people1. Medians run from $35,590 a year for virtual receptionists to $81,600 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Waterloo-Cedar Falls
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +10.1% | 60 | |
| HR Assistant | +2.1% | 40 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -1.6% | 40 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -2.8% | 720 | |
| Bookkeeper | -6.2% | 580 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -6.4% | 240 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -11.5% | 620 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -11.7% | 1,540 | |
| Accountant | -12.1% | 540 | |
| Office Manager | -13.1% | 500 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -14.1% | 30 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -18.0% | 280 | |
| Recruiter | -18.5% | 360 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -18.7% | 370 | |
| Project Coordinator | -20.3% | 190 | |
| Executive Assistant | -22.0% | 170 | |
| Paralegal | -23.6% | 120 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $39,530 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $51,006 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Waterloo-Cedar Falls against the US
Waterloo-Cedar Falls pays above the US median for 2 of the 17 roles, most of all for data entry specialists (+10.1%) and HR assistants (+2.1%), and below it for 15, furthest for paralegals (-23.6%). The middle gap across all 17 is -12.1%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for data entry specialists, #47 of 394 areas by median pay; its lowest is for paralegals, #424 of 506.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Waterloo-Cedar Falls has more medical administrative assistants (9.7% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and customer support specialists (24.1% against 16.4%), and fewer project coordinators (3.0% against 6.7%) and sales development representatives (4.4% against 7.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Wichita, KS is nearest, at -12.2%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | -12.1% | 17 | 11,260 |
| State College, PA | -12.1% | 15 | 5,930 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | -12.1% (this area) | 17 | 6,400 |
| Wichita, KS | -12.2% | 17 | 32,410 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | -12.2% | 15 | 2,700 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -12.3% | 15 | 6,210 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Waterloo-Cedar Falls span $35,690–$106,030, the widest band (3.0×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $35,360–$48,410. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 17 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, customer support specialists, paralegals and 3 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($65,250 against a $57,370 median for sales development representatives).
Waterloo-Cedar Falls against Iowa
Against Iowa as a whole, Waterloo-Cedar Falls pays more for 4 of 17 roles, led by HR assistants (+6.5%) and payroll specialists (+6.0%), and less for 12, most of all project coordinators (-15.5%). It has the highest median in Iowa for data entry specialists, and the lowest for recruiters and customer support specialists.
Other areas in Iowa
By jobs in these roles, Waterloo-Cedar Falls is #8 of 12 areas in Iowa. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Davenport-Moline to Ames.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | 16,150 | 17 |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | 13,550 | 17 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 13,480 | 17 |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | 9,880 | 17 |
| Iowa City, IA | 8,030 | 16 |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | 7,490 | 17 |
| Dubuque, IA | 5,880 | 15 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | 5,340 | 15 |
| Southwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | 4,830 | 15 |
| Ames, IA | 4,620 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $81,600 a year, about $105,290 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,590.
Is hiring in Waterloo-Cedar Falls cheaper than the US median?
For 15 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all paralegals (-23.6%). 2 pay more than the US median, led by data entry specialists (+10.1%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.