Social and Human Service Assistants Salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
The median pay for a social and human service assistants in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is $40,960/year ($19.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.06), which stretches that salary to about $47,048 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,051/month — about 37.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $41K 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 social and human service assistants
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Entry-level social and human service assistants (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Social and Human Service Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $57K | +27% | 1,880 |
| California | $52K | +15% | 58,830 |
| Washington | $50K | +11% | 6,850 |
| New Jersey | $49K | +9% | 15,060 |
| Minnesota | $49K | +8% | 11,290 |
| Oregon | $49K | +8% | 10,820 |
| Rhode Island | $48K | +6% | 2,020 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | +5% | 11,870 |
| North Dakota | $47K | +4% | 1,280 |
| Wisconsin | $46K | +3% | 6,950 |
| Vermont | $46K | +3% | 2,150 |
| Maine | $46K | +3% | 4,620 |
| New York | $46K | +2% | 40,700 |
| Alaska | $46K | +2% | 1,070 |
| Idaho | $46K | +2% | 3,450 |
| New Hampshire | $46K | +2% | 2,330 |
| Illinois | $46K | +1% | 20,460 |
| Maryland | $45K | +0% | 6,470 |
| Connecticut | $45K | -0% | 9,080 |
| New Mexico | $45K | -0% | 2,880 |
| Texas | $44K | -2% | 21,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $43K | -4% | 23,590 |
| Virginia | $43K | -4% | 8,260 |
| Hawaii | $43K | -5% | 2,630 |
| Wyoming | $43K | -5% | 730 |
| Florida | $43K | -5% | 21,820 |
| Arizona | $41K | -9% | 6,900 |
| Indiana | $41K | -9% | 11,410 |
| Delaware | $41K | -9% | 1,170 |
| Kansas | $41K | -10% | 5,840 |
| Utah | $41K | -10% | 6,260 |
| North Carolina | $40K | -10% | 8,280 |
| Iowa | $40K | -11% | 5,100 |
| Nevada | $39K | -13% | 2,410 |
| Ohio | $39K | -14% | 11,170 |
| Missouri | $39K | -14% | 5,000 |
| Tennessee | $39K | -14% | 5,100 |
| Michigan | $39K | -15% | 12,920 |
| Nebraska | $38K | -16% | 1,830 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -16% | 3,290 |
| South Dakota | $38K | -16% | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -17% | 2,460 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -17% | 3,880 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -17% | 2,830 |
| Georgia | $37K | -18% | 8,720 |
| Montana | $37K | -18% | 1,670 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -19% | 4,480 |
| Alabama | $34K | -25% | 3,260 |
| Louisiana | $34K | -26% | 2,860 |
| Mississippi | $29K | -36% | 2,500 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track social and human service assistants 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 social and human service assistants make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $40,960 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,510, and experienced social and human service assistants can clear $56,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,753/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,051/month, which eats 38.2% 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 social and human service assistants 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 social and human service assistants salary is worth about $47,048 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social and human service assistants 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.
