Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary in Waterloo, IA

The median veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA earns $36,240 a year, 5% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,493 a month.

10th percentile: $29,430
25th percentile: $30,710
Median percentile: $36,240
75th percentile: $40,220
90th percentile: $50,910

Based on 70 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

$29,922 take-home a year

Gross pay	$36,240
Federal income tax	−$2,169
Social Security + Medicare	−$2,772
Iowa income tax (approx.)	−$1,377
Monthly take-home	$2,493
Every two weeks	$1,151

Does it go far here?

$41,628Median pay in Waterloo, IA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 87.1 vs 100).

39%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 veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers salaries · Take-home pay in Iowa