Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
In Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn $45,570 at the median, or about $21.91 an hour. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.06), which stretches that salary to about $52,343 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,051/month — about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Entry-level hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59K | +67% | 7,410 |
| Hawaii | $52K | +48% | 1,000 |
| Vermont | $50K | +41% | 520 |
| South Dakota | $49K | +39% | 530 |
| Maine | $48K | +38% | 820 |
| District of Columbia | $48K | +36% | 1,010 |
| Massachusetts | $48K | +35% | 9,210 |
| Alaska | $45K | +27% | 240 |
| New Jersey | $44K | +25% | 15,140 |
| Minnesota | $43K | +22% | 5,230 |
| New Hampshire | $42K | +19% | 1,550 |
| California | $39K | +12% | 21,510 |
| Nebraska | $39K | +11% | 1,950 |
| Montana | $38K | +8% | 600 |
| Iowa | $38K | +7% | 2,870 |
| Virginia | $38K | +7% | 9,480 |
| Connecticut | $37K | +5% | 3,920 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | +4% | 6,460 |
| Maryland | $36K | +3% | 5,900 |
| North Carolina | $36K | +3% | 8,720 |
| Oregon | $36K | +1% | 1,900 |
| Michigan | $36K | +1% | 9,010 |
| Arizona | $35K | -0% | 7,760 |
| Utah | $35K | -1% | 3,620 |
| Illinois | $35K | -1% | 13,770 |
| Kansas | $35K | -1% | 2,340 |
| New York | $34K | -4% | 20,300 |
| North Dakota | $34K | -4% | 930 |
| Idaho | $34K | -4% | 1,860 |
| Wyoming | $32K | -8% | 320 |
| Kentucky | $32K | -9% | 2,030 |
| Indiana | $31K | -11% | 6,240 |
| West Virginia | $31K | -12% | 1,040 |
| Delaware | $31K | -12% | 1,340 |
| Georgia | $31K | -13% | 6,850 |
| Oklahoma | $31K | -13% | 1,830 |
| Rhode Island | $31K | -13% | 1,440 |
| Missouri | $30K | -14% | 5,470 |
| Florida | $30K | -16% | 23,220 |
| Nevada | $30K | -16% | 1,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $30K | -16% | 18,630 |
| Alabama | $30K | -16% | 3,170 |
| Ohio | $29K | -16% | 12,730 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -17% | 5,240 |
| South Carolina | $29K | -17% | 3,290 |
| Texas | $28K | -20% | 22,470 |
| Mississippi | $28K | -20% | 910 |
| New Mexico | $28K | -20% | 1,380 |
| Arkansas | $26K | -25% | 1,610 |
| Louisiana | $23K | -33% | 2,390 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $45,570 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,530, and experienced hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists can clear $66,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,040/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,051/month, which eats 34.6% 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 hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists 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 hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists salary is worth about $52,343 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists 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.