Firefighters Salary in Waterloo, IA

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

Median annual salary $64,230 +7.9% vs national
Median hourly $30.88
10th percentile $46,840
90th percentile $85,130
Employed locally 110
National median $59,530

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Firefighters
in
Waterloo, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,840
    25th
    $57,040
    50th (median)
    $64,230
    75th
    $66,650
    90th
    $85,130

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 93% Median Firefighters salary is 7% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Firefighters

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $164,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,270
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $108,320
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $105,250
    Vallejo, CA $104,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,220

    Nearby metros — Firefighters salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $90,180
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $88,860
    Ames, IA $86,140
    California $83,400
    District of Columbia $79,430
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $78,980

    Related occupations in Waterloo, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $36,690
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $84,730
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $51,560
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $112,310
    First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers $69,460
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $24,310

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Waterloo?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Waterloo, IA is $30.88, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.87 or more per hour.

    Is Waterloo above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Waterloo, IA is 7.9% above the national median of $59,530. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $46,840 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $57,040.