Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers Salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA make a median of $49,220 a year, or about $23.66 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.06), which stretches that salary to about $56,536 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,051/month — about 31.3% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $49K get you in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
About inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Entry-level inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K.Top earners bring in $62K or more - a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $99K | +108% | 220 |
| District of Columbia | $70K | +48% | 110 |
| Wyoming | $60K | +26% | 960 |
| Maryland | $59K | +24% | 4,100 |
| Washington | $58K | +23% | 12,090 |
| Montana | $58K | +21% | 610 |
| Kansas | $56K | +18% | 8,490 |
| Hawaii | $55K | +15% | 550 |
| Connecticut | $54K | +14% | 8,310 |
| Delaware | $53K | +12% | 1,230 |
| Minnesota | $52K | +10% | 10,510 |
| Oregon | $52K | +10% | 6,240 |
| Rhode Island | $52K | +9% | 1,800 |
| New Hampshire | $51K | +8% | 3,110 |
| North Dakota | $51K | +8% | 1,800 |
Track inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers 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 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $49,220 a year - that works out to about $23.66 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,300, and experienced inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers can clear $61,600. 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 $3,267/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,051/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 32.2% 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 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers 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 inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers salary is worth about $56,536 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers 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.