Food Preparation Workers Salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Food Preparation Workers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA make a median of $30,510 a year, or about $14.67 an hour. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $39K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.06), which stretches that salary to about $35,045 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,051/month — about 50.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $31K 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 food preparation workers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Entry-level food preparation workers (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $39K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Food Preparation Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $39K | +14% | 21,090 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +12% | 3,320 |
| California | $38K | +11% | 98,950 |
| Massachusetts | $38K | +10% | 14,890 |
| Hawaii | $37K | +9% | 4,780 |
| Vermont | $37K | +8% | 1,260 |
| Alaska | $37K | +7% | 2,840 |
| Oregon | $36K | +6% | 13,890 |
| New York | $36K | +5% | 51,880 |
| Maine | $36K | +4% | 5,540 |
| North Dakota | $36K | +4% | 700 |
| Arizona | $35K | +4% | 15,500 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | +4% | 2,250 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +4% | 11,450 |
| Florida | $35K | +3% | 67,030 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | +3% | 3,520 |
| New Jersey | $35K | +2% | 25,170 |
| Minnesota | $35K | +2% | 23,720 |
| Wyoming | $34K | +0% | 1,580 |
| Maryland | $34K | +0% | 12,160 |
| Illinois | $34K | -0% | 29,320 |
| Nevada | $34K | -1% | 11,280 |
| Delaware | $33K | -3% | 2,480 |
| Georgia | $33K | -4% | 27,200 |
| Wisconsin | $33K | -4% | 19,940 |
| Michigan | $33K | -4% | 14,380 |
| Nebraska | $32K | -5% | 8,210 |
| Utah | $32K | -6% | 9,370 |
| Ohio | $32K | -8% | 19,290 |
| Virginia | $32K | -8% | 16,170 |
| Idaho | $31K | -8% | 4,530 |
| Montana | $31K | -8% | 2,700 |
| Missouri | $31K | -11% | 15,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $30K | -12% | 20,540 |
| Indiana | $30K | -12% | 15,340 |
| South Carolina | $30K | -12% | 14,500 |
| Iowa | $30K | -13% | 5,050 |
| South Dakota | $30K | -13% | 3,320 |
| Kansas | $29K | -14% | 7,520 |
| North Carolina | $29K | -14% | 24,420 |
| New Mexico | $29K | -14% | 8,330 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -15% | 22,530 |
| Texas | $29K | -16% | 106,040 |
| West Virginia | $28K | -19% | 2,830 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -20% | 5,860 |
| Oklahoma | $26K | -23% | 7,030 |
| Alabama | $26K | -25% | 14,540 |
| Kentucky | $25K | -28% | 15,500 |
| Mississippi | $23K | -32% | 7,490 |
| Louisiana | $23K | -33% | 35,130 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food preparation workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Waterloo-Cedar Falls numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food preparation workers make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $30,510 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,580, and experienced food preparation workers can clear $38,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,101/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,051/month, which eats 50% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food preparation workers 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 food preparation workers salary is worth about $35,045 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food preparation workers 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.