How Much Does a CNA Make in Cedar Falls, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Cedar Falls, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Waterloo · Cedar Falls metro area
A typical CNA in Cedar Falls, Iowa earns $18.72 per hour, or $38,930 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,244 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,790, and the top 10% of earners make over $46,560.
That pay is 1% below the Iowa figure of $39,350 and 8% below the national figure of $42,260. Cedar Falls ranks 7th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for CNA pay. About 1,440 CNAs work in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area. Cedar Falls is part of the Waterloo · Cedar Falls metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Waterloo share these figures.
CNA pay in Cedar Falls at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.72 an hour, or $38,930 a year.
- That is 1% below the Iowa figure, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,790; the top 10% make over $46,560.
- Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2025, against +57% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Cedar Falls?
Pay in Cedar Falls runs from entry-level positions at around $17.21 an hour to more than $22.39 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Cedar Falls
| Career stage | Cedar Falls | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,790$17.21 an hour | $35,620$17.13 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $36,690$17.64 an hour | $37,360$17.96 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $38,930$18.72 an hour | $39,350$18.92 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,550$21.90 an hour | $45,650$21.95 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $46,560$22.39 an hour | $47,980$23.07 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Cedar Falls
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Cedar Falls was $26,100 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,930, a change of +49%, compared with +57% for Iowa over the same years.
How Cedar Falls compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays CNAs the most in Iowa at $43,940 a year, $5,010 more than Cedar Falls. The lowest-paying area in the state is Davenport at $38,740.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cedar Falls | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $43,940 | $21.13 | +13% | 4,660 |
| 2 | Ames | $43,540 | $20.93 | +12% | 770 |
| 3 | Dubuque | $41,580 | $19.99 | +7% | 1,010 |
| 4 | Iowa City | $39,330 | $18.91 | +1% | 1,310 |
| 5 | Cedar Rapids | $39,110 | $18.80 | 0% | 1,740 |
| 6 | Sioux City | $38,940 | $18.72 | 0% | 930 |
| 7 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $38,930 | $18.72 | this city | 1,440 |
| 8 | Davenport | $38,740 | $18.62 | 0% | 2,220 |
Every metro area in Iowa with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $39,350
Is Cedar Falls a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Cedar Falls earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,930 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area, about 17 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Cedar Falls, IA?
- A typical CNA in Cedar Falls earns $38,930 a year, or $18.72 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,790 and the top 10% earn over $46,560.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Cedar Falls?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Cedar Falls is $18.72. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.21, and the top 10% earn over $22.39 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Cedar Falls?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Cedar Falls typically offer around $17.21 an hour, or $35,790 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Cedar Falls higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Cedar Falls pay is 1% below the Iowa figure of $39,350 a year, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $43,940.