Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
In Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians earn $81,930 at the median, or about $39.39 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.06), which stretches that salary to about $94,108 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,051/month, or 20.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $82K get you in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Waterloo-Cedar Falls’s Regional Price Parity (87.06). 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 electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Waterloo-Cedar Falls
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls tracks closely to the national median, $82K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,051/month, 20.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.06 (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 electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians in metros near Waterloo-Cedar Falls, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $76K | $83K |
| Cedar Rapids | $74K | $83K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $81K | $91K |
| Iowa City | $69K | $76K |
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 electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $100K | +28% | 200 |
| Rhode Island | $99K | +26% | 290 |
| District of Columbia | $98K | +25% | 240 |
| Hawaii | $96K | +23% | 460 |
| New Mexico | $96K | +23% | 1,000 |
| Maryland | $96K | +23% | 2,170 |
| Washington | $94K | +20% | 2,540 |
| Alaska | $93K | +19% | 230 |
| Nevada | $88K | +13% | 1,140 |
| California | $86K | +10% | 13,450 |
| Illinois | $86K | +9% | 1,980 |
| New Jersey | $86K | +9% | 2,250 |
| West Virginia | $85K | +9% | 300 |
| Maine | $83K | +7% | 270 |
| Louisiana | $83K | +6% | 1,000 |
| Montana | $82K | +5% | 140 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +4% | 1,190 |
| Mississippi | $81K | +4% | 650 |
| North Dakota | $81K | +4% | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $81K | +3% | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $80K | +2% | 4,670 |
| Minnesota | $78K | +0% | 1,540 |
| Georgia | $78K | -0% | 1,630 |
| Oregon | $78K | -0% | 1,920 |
| Arizona | $78K | -0% | 2,260 |
| Massachusetts | $78K | -1% | 4,030 |
| Colorado | $77K | -1% | 1,410 |
| Idaho | $77K | -1% | 650 |
| New York | $77K | -1% | 4,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | -3% | 3,470 |
| North Carolina | $76K | -3% | 2,490 |
| Iowa | $75K | -4% | 880 |
| Michigan | $75K | -4% | 2,350 |
| Vermont | $75K | -4% | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $75K | -5% | 590 |
| Alabama | $75K | -5% | 1,620 |
| Texas | $74K | -5% | 8,960 |
| South Carolina | $73K | -6% | 2,060 |
| Florida | $73K | -6% | 4,710 |
| Utah | $73K | -7% | 1,420 |
| Missouri | $72K | -8% | 1,390 |
| Wisconsin | $72K | -8% | 1,520 |
| Indiana | $71K | -10% | 1,800 |
| Kansas | $70K | -10% | 770 |
| Arkansas | $70K | -11% | 310 |
| Delaware | $67K | -14% | 130 |
| Nebraska | $65K | -16% | 710 |
| Kentucky | $64K | -18% | 1,060 |
| Tennessee | $64K | -18% | 1,820 |
| Ohio | $63K | -19% | 3,260 |
| South Dakota | $58K | -25% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 20.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,051/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,410/month. At HUD’s $1,051/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Waterloo-Cedar Falls compare to the national average for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $81,930 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,830, and experienced electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians can clear $120,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,148/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,051/month, which eats 20.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians salary go in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls has a Regional Price Parity of 87.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $94,108 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians 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.