Machinists Salary in Waterloo, IA

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

Median annual salary $56,500 +0.6% vs national
Median hourly $27.16
10th percentile $42,440
90th percentile $68,930
Employed locally 200
National median $56,150

Compare Machinists salary & buying power

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

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Machinists
in
Waterloo, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $42,440
    25th
    $49,210
    50th (median)
    $56,500
    75th
    $59,420
    90th
    $68,930

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Machinists salary vs area income 82% Median Machinists salary is 18% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Machinists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $101,810
    Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $85,530
    Bloomington, IL $81,240
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $80,150
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $78,580
    Barnstable Town, MA $77,650

    Nearby metros — Machinists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $101,810
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $74,780
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $64,510
    Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $61,970
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $61,290
    Virginia $60,920

    Related occupations in Waterloo, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $48,120
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,220
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $48,420
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $47,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $75,420
    Production Workers, All Other $48,700

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Machinists make per hour in Waterloo?

    The median hourly wage for Machinists in Waterloo, IA is $27.16, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $34.21 or more per hour.

    Is Waterloo above or below average for Machinists salaries?

    The median Machinists salary in Waterloo, IA is 0.6% above the national median of $56,150. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Machinists (10th percentile) earn around $42,440 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,210.