SOC 43-4121 · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro

Library Assistants, Clerical Salary in Waterloo, IA

The average salary for library assistants, clerical in Waterloo, Iowa is $25,980 a year ($12.49 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $26,790: half of the 60 people in this job in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 34% less than the U.S. average for this job ($39,370).

$25,980average per year

$12.49 / hourMedian $26,790Take-home ≈ $22,629

  • $18K10th
  • $23K25th
  • $27KMedian
  • $31K75th
  • $32K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

60people in this job
-34%vs U.S. average
#7 of 7Iowa metros
87cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Library Assistants, Clerical pay range in Waterloo

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $32,350 or more. The middle half of library assistants, clerical in Waterloo earn between $22,850 and $31,290.

  • $18K10th
  • $23K25th
  • $27KMedian
  • $31K75th
  • $32K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$25,980$2,165$12.49
Median$26,790$2,232$12.88
Entry level (25th percentile)$22,850$1,904$10.99
Experienced (75th percentile)$31,290$2,608$15.04

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Library Assistants, Clerical pay in Waterloo vs. Iowa and the U.S.

Library assistants, clerical in Waterloo earn 18% less than the Iowa average ($31,700) and 34% less than the U.S. average ($39,370). At the median the gap is -27% against the U.S. median of $36,910.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Waterloo$25,980$26,790$17,940$32,35060
Iowa$31,700$29,480$21,950$45,3101,700
United States$39,370$36,910$27,730$55,31085,520

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Library Assistants, Clerical salary after taxes in Waterloo

On the average salary of $25,980, a single filer in Waterloo takes home about $22,629 a year, or $1,886 a month and $870 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Iowa paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Waterloo a good place for library assistants, clerical? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Waterloo area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.1), so the average $25,980 buys what about $29,843 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Waterloo ($47,430). A typical home costs $200,191, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $25,980 is worth in another city

Library Assistants, Clerical salary in other Iowa cities

Waterloo ranks 7th of 7 Iowa metro areas for this job; Iowa City pays the most ($40,890).

All Library Assistants, Clerical salaries in Iowa

Highest-paying cities for library assistants, clerical

San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($61,280).

Library Assistants, Clerical salary by city

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Library Assistants, Clerical salary in Waterloo: questions

How much do library assistants, clerical make an hour in Waterloo?

$12.49 an hour on average, and $12.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level library assistants, clerical salary in Waterloo?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,850, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the library assistants, clerical take-home pay in Waterloo?

About $22,629 a year ($1,886 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $25,980. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Do library assistants, clerical earn more in Waterloo than elsewhere?

The average here is 34% less than the U.S. average for this job ($39,370).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-4121; area Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA (47940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.1%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.32, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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