Industrial Engineer salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Industrial Engineers in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $92,330 a year ($44.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,780 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $102,440. Pay here is 5% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $97,690. There are 1.5 industrial engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $93,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for industrial engineers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,980 | $35.57 |
| 25th percentile | $77,040 | $37.04 |
| Median | $92,330 | $44.39 |
| 75th percentile | $103,990 | $49.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,780 | $60.47 |
| Average (mean) | $93,260 | $44.84 |
Half of industrial engineers 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 | $7,694.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,847.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,551.15 |
| Weekly | $1,775.58 |
| Hourly | $44.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Industrial Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $109,040 | 230 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $105,660 | 130 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $104,100 | 1,190 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $101,980 | 370 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $99,570 | 330 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $98,270 | 520 |
| Ames, IA | $88,650 | 140 |
| Iowa City, IA | $85,800 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for industrial engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $156,510 |
| Washington | $129,050 |
| Oregon | $128,290 |
| New Mexico | $128,090 |
| California | $124,600 |
| Hawaii | $123,800 |
| Louisiana | $122,920 |
| Wyoming | $122,070 |
| Delaware | $120,190 |
| Maryland | $119,930 |
See Industrial Engineer pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $88,770 | $42.68 |
| Civil Engineer | $97,430 | $46.84 |
| Engineers, All Other | $96,440 | $46.37 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $69,320 | $33.33 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $81,930 | $39.39 |
More: Architecture and Engineering 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 17-2112. 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 industrial engineer make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for industrial engineers in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $92,330 a year, or $44.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid industrial engineers make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of industrial engineers in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $125,780 a year. The top 25% earn $103,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for industrial engineers in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,980 a year, and a quarter of industrial engineers earn $77,040 or less.
How many industrial engineers work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 120 industrial engineers are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.