Helpers--Production Workers Salary
In Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, helpers--production workers earn $48,520 at the median, or about $23.33 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.06), which stretches that salary to about $55,732 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,051/month, about 31.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K 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 helpers--production workers
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What this looks like in Waterloo-Cedar Falls
Waterloo-Cedar Falls sits well above the national pay line for helpers--production workers, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $39K. Rent runs $1,051/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 helpers--production workers in metros near Waterloo-Cedar Falls, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $52K | $57K |
| Sioux City | $44K | $51K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $47K | $52K |
| Ames | $39K | $44K |
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 helpers--production workers (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $9K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Production Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Helpers--Production Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $46K | +18% | 220 |
| Montana | $46K | +18% | 220 |
| Iowa | $46K | +17% | 2,070 |
| Colorado | $46K | +17% | 1,350 |
| Washington | $45K | +16% | 3,620 |
| Oregon | $45K | +16% | 2,420 |
| Connecticut | $45K | +16% | 1,400 |
| Wisconsin | $45K | +15% | 2,900 |
| Nebraska | $45K | +15% | 700 |
| Rhode Island | $45K | +14% | 210 |
| Minnesota | $45K | +14% | 2,570 |
| Maryland | $45K | +14% | 1,650 |
| Hawaii | $44K | +14% | 230 |
| Maine | $44K | +13% | 470 |
| California | $44K | +13% | 16,730 |
| New York | $44K | +11% | 3,810 |
| New Hampshire | $43K | +9% | 690 |
| Alaska | $43K | +9% | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $42K | +8% | 1,790 |
| Indiana | $42K | +8% | 2,450 |
| Kentucky | $42K | +8% | 2,900 |
| Michigan | $42K | +7% | 3,610 |
| Illinois | $41K | +6% | 5,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $41K | +5% | 6,450 |
| Missouri | $41K | +4% | 6,250 |
| Wyoming | $40K | +3% | 280 |
| Nevada | $40K | +2% | 680 |
| Arizona | $40K | +2% | 1,350 |
| Ohio | $40K | +1% | 4,280 |
| Vermont | $40K | +1% | 270 |
| North Carolina | $39K | +1% | 4,350 |
| New Jersey | $39K | +1% | 4,450 |
| West Virginia | $39K | +0% | 670 |
| Delaware | $38K | -2% | 230 |
| Tennessee | $38K | -2% | 5,270 |
| Idaho | $38K | -2% | 1,140 |
| Florida | $38K | -3% | 5,010 |
| Virginia | $38K | -3% | 3,900 |
| Kansas | $37K | -4% | 1,430 |
| Utah | $37K | -5% | 1,000 |
| Texas | $37K | -6% | 30,470 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -6% | 1,950 |
| Louisiana | $36K | -7% | 3,710 |
| Georgia | $36K | -7% | 4,480 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -7% | 2,200 |
| Alabama | $36K | -8% | 7,230 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -9% | 810 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -9% | 6,760 |
| Mississippi | $34K | -13% | 3,540 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track helpers--production 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
Can a helpers--production worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 32.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,051/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--production workers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--production workers typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,454/month. At HUD’s $1,051/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--production worker a high-paying job in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $49K here vs. $39K nationally.
How does Waterloo-Cedar Falls compare to the national average for helpers--production workers?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--production workers make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $48,520 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,900, and experienced helpers--production workers can clear $50,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,224/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,051/month, which eats 32.6% 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 helpers--production 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 helpers--production workers salary is worth about $55,732 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--production 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.