Bartender salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Bartenders in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $21,540 a year ($10.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,130 for the top 10%. That is 37% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $21,720. There are 6.4 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $25,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,390 | $7.88 |
| 25th percentile | $17,990 | $8.65 |
| Median | $21,540 | $10.36 |
| 75th percentile | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Average (mean) | $25,170 | $12.10 |
Half of bartenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $1,795 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $897.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $828.46 |
| Weekly | $414.23 |
| Hourly | $10.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $34,630 | 3,790 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 1,470 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $23,750 | 430 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $22,340 | 2,200 |
| Iowa City, IA | $21,900 | 790 |
| Dubuque, IA | $21,720 | 460 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $21,600 | 790 |
| Ames, IA | $21,580 | 450 |
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,820 | $13.38 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,490 | $10.33 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,140 | $13.53 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,680 | $17.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Dishwasher | $28,890 | $13.89 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,050 | $15.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $33,520 | $16.12 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for bartenders in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $21,540 a year, or $10.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $38,130 a year. The top 25% earn $27,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,390 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $17,990 or less.
How many bartenders work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 540 bartenders are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.