Data Scientist salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Data Scientists in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $82,050 a year ($39.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,050 for the top 10%. That is 32% lower than the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 14% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $95,830. There are 0.82 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $95,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,380 | $30.47 |
| 25th percentile | $71,030 | $34.15 |
| Median | $82,050 | $39.45 |
| 75th percentile | $109,080 | $52.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $153,050 | $73.58 |
| Average (mean) | $95,400 | $45.87 |
Half of data scientists 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 | $6,837.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,418.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,155.77 |
| Weekly | $1,577.88 |
| Hourly | $39.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $106,340 | 280 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $103,030 | 1,240 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $100,830 | 1,200 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $99,410 | 180 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $90,030 | 40 |
| Ames, IA | $79,430 | 100 |
| Dubuque, IA | $74,790 | 90 |
| Iowa City, IA | $72,120 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
See Data Scientist pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $113,970 | $54.80 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $59,630 | $28.67 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $82,260 | $39.55 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $107,660 | $51.76 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $80,140 | $38.53 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $84,920 | $40.83 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $59,410 | $28.56 |
| Computer Programmer | $78,250 | $37.62 |
| Information Security Analyst | $106,350 | $51.13 |
| Web Developer | $78,140 | $37.57 |
More: Computer and Mathematical 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 15-2051. 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 data scientist make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for data scientists in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $82,050 a year, or $39.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of data scientists in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $153,050 a year. The top 25% earn $109,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,380 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $71,030 or less.
How many data scientists work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 70 data scientists are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.