Physician Assistant salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Physician Assistants in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $132,880 a year ($63.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $100,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,900 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 1% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $134,770. There are 0.67 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $145,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,430 | $48.29 |
| 25th percentile | $118,810 | $57.12 |
| Median | $132,880 | $63.89 |
| 75th percentile | $164,900 | $79.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $191,900 | $92.26 |
| Average (mean) | $145,030 | $69.73 |
Half of physician assistants 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 | $11,073.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,536.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,110.77 |
| Weekly | $2,555.38 |
| Hourly | $63.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physician Assistant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $137,420 | 110 |
| Iowa City, IA | $134,770 | 230 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $134,130 | 720 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $133,830 | 340 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $130,970 | 70 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $129,680 | 80 |
| Dubuque, IA | $126,050 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for physician assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 |
| California | $165,650 |
| Washington | $164,360 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 |
| New York | $160,880 |
| Oregon | $155,780 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 |
| Alaska | $150,700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 |
See Physician Assistant pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $76,920 | $36.98 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $126,330 | $60.73 |
| Pharmacist | $138,690 | $66.68 |
| Dental Hygienist | $82,500 | $39.66 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $287,990 | $138.46 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $81,050 | $38.97 |
| Physical Therapist | $97,180 | $46.72 |
| Physicians, All Other | $295,200 | $141.92 |
| Occupational Therapist | $98,240 | $47.23 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $65,070 | $31.29 |
| Dentists, General | $163,600 | $78.66 |
| Veterinarian | $130,740 | $62.86 |
| Anesthesiologist | $239,200+ | $115.00+ |
| Chiropractor | $63,280 | $30.42 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 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 29-1071. 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 physician assistant make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $132,880 a year, or $63.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $100,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $191,900 a year. The top 25% earn $164,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $100,430 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $118,810 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 60 physician assistants are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.