Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Salary
The median pay for a veterinary technologists and technicians in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is $45,210/year ($21.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.06), which stretches that salary to about $51,930 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,051/month, about 34.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $45K actually covers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, month by month
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 veterinary technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Waterloo-Cedar Falls
Veterinary technologists and technicians pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,051/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.8% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for veterinary technologists and technicians in metros near Waterloo-Cedar Falls, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Ames | $51K | $57K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $48K | $52K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $45K | $51K |
| Cedar Rapids | $45K | $50K |
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 veterinary technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Veterinary Technologists and Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $61K | +29% | 120 |
| California | $61K | +28% | 11,310 |
| Washington | $60K | +26% | 2,290 |
| New York | $59K | +25% | 5,350 |
| Minnesota | $57K | +21% | 3,560 |
| Oregon | $56K | +18% | 1,120 |
| Virginia | $52K | +10% | 2,790 |
| Connecticut | $51K | +8% | 1,690 |
| Maine | $51K | +7% | 910 |
| Nevada | $50K | +6% | 1,120 |
| Michigan | $50K | +5% | 2,550 |
| Colorado | $50K | +5% | 3,720 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | +5% | 3,990 |
| Vermont | $49K | +4% | 390 |
| New Jersey | $49K | +4% | 2,910 |
| North Dakota | $49K | +3% | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | +3% | 870 |
| Indiana | $49K | +3% | 1,820 |
| Hawaii | $49K | +2% | 270 |
| Delaware | $48K | +2% | 530 |
| Ohio | $48K | +1% | 4,790 |
| North Carolina | $48K | +1% | 2,580 |
| Maryland | $47K | -0% | 2,540 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | -1% | 2,590 |
| Alaska | $46K | -2% | 380 |
| Illinois | $46K | -2% | 5,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $46K | -2% | 6,620 |
| Florida | $46K | -2% | 11,380 |
| Arizona | $46K | -2% | 3,970 |
| Kansas | $46K | -3% | 1,270 |
| Iowa | $46K | -4% | 1,220 |
| Rhode Island | $45K | -4% | 530 |
| South Dakota | $45K | -4% | 300 |
| New Mexico | $45K | -5% | 890 |
| Nebraska | $44K | -8% | 690 |
| Missouri | $44K | -8% | 2,040 |
| Georgia | $43K | -9% | 2,410 |
| Tennessee | $43K | -10% | 1,640 |
| Idaho | $42K | -11% | 790 |
| Montana | $41K | -13% | 480 |
| Utah | $41K | -14% | 1,550 |
| Kentucky | $40K | -16% | 1,670 |
| Texas | $39K | -17% | 16,730 |
| Oklahoma | $39K | -17% | 1,060 |
| South Carolina | $39K | -18% | 2,540 |
| Wyoming | $39K | -18% | 310 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -19% | 320 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -20% | 400 |
| Alabama | $37K | -23% | 1,880 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -23% | 650 |
| Louisiana | $36K | -25% | 2,220 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a veterinary technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 34.8% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinary technologists and technicians in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinary technologists and technicians typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,484/month. At HUD’s $1,051/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is veterinary technologists and technician a high-paying job in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Waterloo-Cedar Falls compare to the national average for veterinary technologists and technicians?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do veterinary technologists and technicians make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $45,210 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,630, and experienced veterinary technologists and technicians can clear $47,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,018/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,051/month, which eats 34.8% 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 veterinary technologists and technicians 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 veterinary technologists and technicians salary is worth about $51,930 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do veterinary technologists and technicians 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.