Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Waterloo, IA

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

Median annual salary $27,720 -19.6% vs national
Median hourly $13.33
10th percentile $23,750
90th percentile $35,240
Employed locally 290
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
in
Waterloo, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,750
    25th
    $26,220
    50th (median)
    $27,720
    75th
    $29,350
    90th
    $35,240

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 40% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 60% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $57,540
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $45,030
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $42,600
    Ithaca, NY $40,230

    Nearby metros — Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $38,850
    California $37,690
    District of Columbia $37,570
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $37,360
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $36,700
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $36,580

    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
    Bartenders$22,000

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make per hour in Waterloo?

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Waterloo, IA is $13.33, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.77 or more per hour.

    Is Waterloo above or below average for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries?

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Waterloo, IA is 19.6% below the national median of $34,460. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Waterloo?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $23,750 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $26,220.