Bartenders Salary in Waterloo, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Median annual salary $22,000 -34.4% vs national
Median hourly $10.58
10th percentile $16,970
90th percentile $40,250
Employed locally 490
National median $33,530

Compare Bartenders salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Waterloo, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Bartenders
in
Waterloo, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $16,970
    25th
    $20,320
    50th (median)
    $22,000
    75th
    $28,060
    90th
    $40,250

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Bartenders salary vs area income 32% Median Bartenders salary is 68% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Bartenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $80,040
    Urban Honolulu, HI $70,300
    Hawaii $68,820
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $65,480
    New York $60,750
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $59,390

    Nearby metros — Bartenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $54,930
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $50,070
    Virginia $46,860
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $46,020
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $45,220
    Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $37,730

    Related occupations in Waterloo, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,080
    Waiters and Waitresses $25,470
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,170
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,680
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $34,410
    Cooks, Fast Food $28,230

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Bartenders make per hour in Waterloo?

    The median hourly wage for Bartenders in Waterloo, IA is $10.58, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.33 or more per hour.

    Is Waterloo above or below average for Bartenders salaries?

    The median Bartenders salary in Waterloo, IA is 34.4% below the national median of $33,530. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Bartenders in Waterloo?

    Entry-level Bartenders (10th percentile) earn around $16,970 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $20,320.