How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Waterloo, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical 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 Surgical Tech in Waterloo, Iowa earns $28.80 per hour, or $59,910 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,993 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,790, and the top 10% of earners make over $62,190.
That pay is 1% below the Iowa figure of $60,540 and 7% below the national figure of $64,650. Waterloo ranks 4th of 6 metro areas in Iowa for Surgical Tech pay. About 40 Surgical 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.
Surgical Tech pay in Waterloo at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.80 an hour, or $59,910 a year.
- That is 1% below the Iowa figure, ranking 4th of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,790; the top 10% make over $62,190.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Waterloo?
Pay in Waterloo runs from entry-level positions at around $19.13 an hour to more than $29.90 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Waterloo
| Career stage | Waterloo | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,790$19.13 an hour | $47,280$22.73 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $50,490$24.27 an hour | $50,680$24.37 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $59,910$28.80 an hour | $60,540$29.11 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $60,920$29.29 an hour | $62,880$30.23 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $62,190$29.90 an hour | $75,100$36.11 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Waterloo
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs 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 Surgical Tech pay in Waterloo was $38,130 a year. By 2025 it had reached $59,910, compared with +56% for Iowa over the same years.
How Waterloo compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays Surgical Techs the most in Iowa at $62,250 a year, $2,340 more than Waterloo. The lowest-paying area in the state is Iowa City at $58,930.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Waterloo | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $62,250 | $29.93 | +4% | 230 |
| 2 | Davenport | $60,520 | $29.10 | +1% | 110 |
| 3 | Dubuque | $60,500 | $29.09 | +1% | 40 |
| 4 | Waterloo metro incl. Cedar Falls | $59,910 | $28.80 | this city | 40 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $59,670 | $28.69 | 0% | 90 |
| 6 | Iowa City | $58,930 | $28.33 | -2% | 120 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $60,540
Is Waterloo a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Waterloo earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $59,910 a year, 7% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Waterloo · Cedar Falls area, about 0.5 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.7. That makes Surgical Techs 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 a Surgical Tech make in Waterloo, IA?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Waterloo earns $59,910 a year, or $28.80 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,790 and the top 10% earn over $62,190.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Waterloo?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Waterloo is $28.80. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.13, and the top 10% earn over $29.90 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Waterloo?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Waterloo typically offer around $19.13 an hour, or $39,790 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Waterloo higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Waterloo pay is 1% below the Iowa figure of $60,540 a year, ranking 4th of 6 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $62,250.