Food Preparation Workers salary in Waterloo, IA

The median food preparation workers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA earns $32,050 a year, 9% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,226 a month.

10th percentile: $23,950
25th percentile: $28,410
Median percentile: $32,050
75th percentile: $37,230
90th percentile: $40,760

Based on 170 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$26,714 take-home a year

Gross pay	$32,050
Federal income tax	−$1,666
Social Security + Medicare	−$2,452
Iowa income tax (approx.)	−$1,218
Monthly take-home	$2,226
Every two weeks	$1,027

Does it go far here?

$36,815Median pay in Waterloo, IA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 87.1 vs 100).

44%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($977 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Waterloo, IA

Job	Median pay
General and Operations Managers	$82,400
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$77,850
Registered Nurses	$76,920
Accountants and Auditors	$73,530
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	$67,040
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$60,780
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$60,440
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	$60,420

All food preparation workers salaries · Take-home pay in Iowa