Carpenter salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Carpenters in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $55,840 a year ($26.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,980 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $60,580. Pay here is 3% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $57,710. There are 3.1 carpenters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $56,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for carpenters in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| 25th percentile | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Median | $55,840 | $26.85 |
| 75th percentile | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,980 | $37.97 |
| Average (mean) | $56,780 | $27.30 |
Half of carpenters 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 | $4,653.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,326.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,147.69 |
| Weekly | $1,073.85 |
| Hourly | $26.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Carpenter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $61,360 | 1,810 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,440 | 670 |
| Dubuque, IA | $60,090 | 260 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,920 | 530 |
| Ames, IA | $55,640 | 210 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $52,800 | 3,230 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $51,100 | 350 |
| Iowa City, IA | $49,680 | 360 |
Highest-paying states for carpenters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $85,280 |
| Illinois | $79,000 |
| California | $75,920 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 |
| Washington | $74,190 |
| Alaska | $73,860 |
| New York | $72,330 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 |
| Connecticut | $64,060 |
| New Jersey | $64,010 |
See Carpenter pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $49,950 | $24.01 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $97,770 | $47.01 |
| Electrician | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $62,200 | $29.91 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $55,000 | $26.44 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $63,240 | $30.40 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,860 | $28.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $77,760 | $37.39 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $59,380 | $28.55 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $71,330 | $34.30 |
More: Construction and Extraction 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 47-2031. 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 carpenter make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for carpenters in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $55,840 a year, or $26.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid carpenters make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of carpenters in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $78,980 a year. The top 25% earn $62,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for carpenters in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,870 a year, and a quarter of carpenters earn $47,980 or less.
How many carpenters work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 260 carpenters are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.