How Much Does an MLT Make in Waterloo, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs 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 MLT in Waterloo, Iowa earns $22.98 per hour, or $47,800 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,983 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,100, and the top 10% of earners make over $73,620.
That pay is 12% below the Iowa figure of $54,260 and 24% below the national figure of $62,930. Waterloo ranks 6th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for MLT pay. About 200 MLTs 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.
MLT pay in Waterloo at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.98 an hour, or $47,800 a year.
- That is 12% below the Iowa figure, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,100; the top 10% make over $73,620.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Waterloo?
Pay in Waterloo runs from entry-level positions at around $18.32 an hour to more than $35.39 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Waterloo
| Career stage | Waterloo | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,100$18.32 an hour | $38,790$18.65 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $38,890$18.70 an hour | $43,210$20.77 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $47,800$22.98 an hour | $54,260$26.09 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $61,060$29.36 an hour | $65,810$31.64 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $73,620$35.39 an hour | $79,660$38.30 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Waterloo
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Waterloo was $49,590 a year. By 2025 it had reached $47,800.
How Waterloo compares with other Iowa cities
Cedar Rapids pays MLTs the most in Iowa at $62,560 a year, $14,760 more than Waterloo. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sioux City at $47,360.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Waterloo | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids | $62,560 | $30.08 | +31% | 270 |
| 2 | Ames | $56,380 | $27.10 | +18% | 110 |
| 3 | Dubuque | $55,680 | $26.77 | +16% | 100 |
| 4 | Iowa City | $52,140 | $25.07 | +9% | 420 |
| 5 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $50,240 | $24.16 | +5% | 700 |
| 6 | Waterloo metro incl. Cedar Falls | $47,800 | $22.98 | this city | 200 |
| 7 | Davenport | $47,770 | $22.97 | 0% | 400 |
| 8 | Sioux City | $47,360 | $22.77 | -1% | 200 |
Every metro area in Iowa with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $54,260
Is Waterloo a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Waterloo earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $47,800 a year, 24% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area, about 2.4 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. MLT jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MLT make in Waterloo, IA?
- A typical MLT in Waterloo earns $47,800 a year, or $22.98 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,100 and the top 10% earn over $73,620.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Waterloo?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Waterloo is $22.98. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.32, and the top 10% earn over $35.39 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Waterloo?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Waterloo typically offer around $18.32 an hour, or $38,100 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Waterloo higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Waterloo pay is 12% below the Iowa figure of $54,260 a year, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state. Cedar Rapids pays the most in Iowa at $62,560.