How Much Does an EMT Make in Waterloo, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Waterloo, 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 EMT in Waterloo, Iowa earns $20.91 per hour, or $43,500 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,625 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,160, and the top 10% of earners make over $60,740.
That pay is 7% above the Iowa figure of $40,660 and 2% below the national figure of $44,470. Waterloo ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in Iowa for EMT pay. About 60 EMTs work in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo · Cedar Falls metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Cedar Falls share these figures.
EMT pay in Waterloo at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.91 an hour, or $43,500 a year.
- That is 7% above the Iowa figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,160; the top 10% make over $60,740.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Waterloo?
Pay in Waterloo runs from entry-level positions at around $17.38 an hour to more than $29.20 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Waterloo
| Career stage | Waterloo | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,160$17.38 an hour | $35,600$17.12 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $36,160$17.38 an hour | $37,030$17.80 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $43,500$20.91 an hour | $40,660$19.55 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $54,070$26.00 an hour | $47,870$23.02 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $60,740$29.20 an hour | $60,080$28.89 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Waterloo
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Waterloo was $36,150 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,500.
How Waterloo compares with other Iowa cities
Iowa City pays EMTs the most in Iowa at $52,210 a year, $8,710 more than Waterloo. The lowest-paying area in the state is Davenport at $39,830.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Waterloo | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $52,210 | $25.10 | +20% | 70 |
| 2 | Ames | $46,000 | $22.12 | +6% | 30 |
| 3 | Waterloo metro incl. Cedar Falls | $43,500 | $20.91 | this city | 60 |
| 4 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $42,470 | $20.42 | -2% | 280 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $41,710 | $20.05 | -4% | 80 |
| 6 | Dubuque | $41,260 | $19.84 | -5% | 40 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids | $40,160 | $19.31 | -8% | 150 |
| 8 | Davenport | $39,830 | $19.15 | -8% | 160 |
Every metro area in Iowa with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $40,660
Is Waterloo a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Waterloo sits close to the national figure: $43,500 a year, 2% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area, about 0.7 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.1. That makes EMTs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Waterloo, IA?
- A typical EMT in Waterloo earns $43,500 a year, or $20.91 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,160 and the top 10% earn over $60,740.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Waterloo?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Waterloo is $20.91. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.38, and the top 10% earn over $29.20 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Waterloo?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Waterloo typically offer around $17.38 an hour, or $36,160 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Waterloo higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Waterloo pay is 7% above the Iowa figure of $40,660 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. Iowa City pays the most in Iowa at $52,210.