How Much Does a Rad Tech Make in Waterloo, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Rad Techs 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 Rad Tech in Waterloo, Iowa earns $30.95 per hour, or $64,370 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,364 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $48,800, and the top 10% of earners make over $81,790.
That pay is 2% below the Iowa figure of $65,930 and 20% below the national figure of $80,110. Waterloo ranks 7th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Rad Tech pay. About 150 Rad Techs 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.
Rad Tech pay in Waterloo at a glance
- Typical pay is $30.95 an hour, or $64,370 a year.
- That is 2% below the Iowa figure, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $48,800; the top 10% make over $81,790.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Rad Tech make in Waterloo?
Pay in Waterloo runs from entry-level positions at around $23.46 an hour to more than $39.32 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Rad Tech pay by career stage in Waterloo
| Career stage | Waterloo | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $48,800$23.46 an hour | $54,360$26.14 an hour | $55,980$26.91 an hour |
| First years | $61,480$29.56 an hour | $61,730$29.68 an hour | $64,810$31.16 an hour |
| Typical Rad Tech | $64,370$30.95 an hour | $65,930$31.70 an hour | $80,110$38.52 an hour |
| Experienced | $79,390$38.17 an hour | $79,390$38.17 an hour | $98,750$47.47 an hour |
| Top 10% | $81,790$39.32 an hour | $86,520$41.59 an hour | $118,660$57.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area as BLS defines it
Rad Tech pay growth in Waterloo
Typical (median) annual wage for Rad Techs in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area · BLS OES May estimates, 2019 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2019, typical Rad Tech pay in Waterloo was $54,080 a year. By 2025 it had reached $64,370.
How Waterloo compares with other Iowa cities
Dubuque pays Rad Techs the most in Iowa at $74,530 a year, $10,160 more than Waterloo. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sioux City at $64,260.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Waterloo | Rad Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubuque | $74,530 | $35.83 | +16% | 100 |
| 2 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $67,640 | $32.52 | +5% | 560 |
| 3 | Ames | $66,760 | $32.09 | +4% | 90 |
| 4 | Iowa City | $65,820 | $31.65 | +2% | 240 |
| 5 | Cedar Rapids | $64,880 | $31.19 | +1% | 230 |
| 6 | Davenport | $64,580 | $31.05 | 0% | 280 |
| 7 | Waterloo metro incl. Cedar Falls | $64,370 | $30.95 | this city | 150 |
| 8 | Sioux City | $64,260 | $30.90 | 0% | 150 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Rad Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $65,930
Is Waterloo a good place to work as a Rad Tech?
Rad Techs in Waterloo earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $64,370 a year, 20% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area, about 1.8 are Rad Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. That makes the local economy more reliant on Rad Techs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Rad Tech make in Waterloo, IA?
- A typical Rad Tech in Waterloo earns $64,370 a year, or $30.95 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $48,800 and the top 10% earn over $81,790.
- How much does a Rad Tech make an hour in Waterloo?
- Typical hourly pay for Rad Techs in Waterloo is $30.95. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.46, and the top 10% earn over $39.32 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Rad Tech in Waterloo?
- Entry-level Rad Tech positions in Waterloo typically offer around $23.46 an hour, or $48,800 a year.
- Is Rad Tech pay in Waterloo higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Waterloo pay is 2% below the Iowa figure of $65,930 a year, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state. Dubuque pays the most in Iowa at $74,530.