Dietitians and Nutritionists Salary
The median pay for a dietitians and nutritionists in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is $74,010/year ($35.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers.
So what does $74K get you in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Waterloo-Cedar Falls’s Regional Price Parity (87.1). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About dietitians and nutritionists
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What this looks like in Waterloo-Cedar Falls
Dietitians and nutritionists pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.1 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dietitians and nutritionists in metros near Waterloo-Cedar Falls, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $66K | , |
| Iowa City | $65K | , |
| Cedar Rapids | $75K | , |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $74K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Entry-level dietitians and nutritionists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Dietitians and Nutritionists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Dietitians and Nutritionists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $99K | +29% | 8,720 |
| West Virginia | $89K | +17% | 520 |
| Alaska | $88K | +15% | 130 |
| New Jersey | $84K | +11% | 2,870 |
| Washington | $84K | +10% | 1,450 |
| Oregon | $84K | +10% | 700 |
| New York | $82K | +8% | 5,330 |
| District of Columbia | $82K | +8% | 270 |
| Hawaii | $82K | +7% | 370 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +5% | 860 |
| Delaware | $78K | +2% | 290 |
| Maryland | $78K | +2% | 1,430 |
| Minnesota | $78K | +1% | 1,180 |
| Vermont | $77K | +1% | 160 |
| Virginia | $77K | +1% | 1,510 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | +0% | 2,860 |
| Florida | $76K | -0% | 4,370 |
| Colorado | $76K | -1% | 1,640 |
| Wisconsin | $75K | -2% | 1,330 |
| New Mexico | $75K | -2% | 500 |
| Texas | $74K | -3% | 5,320 |
| Illinois | $74K | -4% | 2,840 |
| Georgia | $73K | -4% | 2,020 |
| Iowa | $73K | -5% | 630 |
| New Hampshire | $72K | -6% | 440 |
| Idaho | $72K | -6% | 420 |
| Montana | $72K | -6% | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $71K | -7% | 360 |
| Louisiana | $70K | -8% | 800 |
| Nebraska | $70K | -8% | 570 |
| North Dakota | $70K | -8% | 270 |
| South Carolina | $70K | -8% | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $70K | -9% | 1,230 |
| Ohio | $70K | -9% | 3,060 |
| Kentucky | $70K | -9% | 1,040 |
| Nevada | $69K | -10% | 560 |
| Tennessee | $68K | -11% | 1,230 |
| North Carolina | $68K | -12% | 2,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $67K | -12% | 4,270 |
| Michigan | $67K | -13% | 2,370 |
| Kansas | $67K | -13% | 580 |
| Indiana | $66K | -13% | 1,670 |
| Alabama | $66K | -13% | 780 |
| Arkansas | $66K | -14% | 650 |
| Missouri | $65K | -14% | 1,700 |
| Utah | $65K | -15% | 1,120 |
| South Dakota | $65K | -15% | 210 |
| Maine | $65K | -15% | 510 |
| Arizona | $64K | -16% | 1,800 |
| Wyoming | $64K | -16% | 120 |
| Mississippi | $64K | -17% | 540 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track dietitians and nutritionists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Waterloo-Cedar Falls numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dietitians and nutritionist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dietitians and nutritionists in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dietitians and nutritionists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,671/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dietitians and nutritionist a high-paying job in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Waterloo-Cedar Falls compare to the national average for dietitians and nutritionists?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.1), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dietitians and nutritionists make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $74,010 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,180, and experienced dietitians and nutritionists can clear $98,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,722/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 21.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dietitians and nutritionists salary go in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dietitians and nutritionists salary is worth about $84,971 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dietitians and nutritionists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.