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Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does an auto mechanic make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

In the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metropolitan area, auto mechanics earned a median of $48,720 a year ($23.43 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 430 of these jobs there. That is 3% above the $47,430 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $35,630 and $74,070; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Iowa tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $40,127 in take-home pay.

Auto mechanic pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA at a glance

Median salary

$48,720$23.43 per hour · $4,060 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$35,630$17.13/hr
25th percentile$38,880$18.69/hr
75th percentile$62,550$30.07/hr
90th percentile$74,070$35.61/hr
Jobs in this metro430Location quotient 1.12 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here3% aboveAll-jobs median $47,430
Against Iowa4% belowStatewide median $50,510
Against the U.S.4% belowNational median $50,620

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Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $49,000 a year leaves after tax in IowaFederal tax, FICA and Iowa withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$23 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $49,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $49,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Iowa publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Iowa.

Auto mechanic salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA after taxes

$48,720
$15,000$100,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$48,720
Net 82%
Fed 8%
IA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$40,127After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,344Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,543Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,666 / yr
Iowa state income tax$1,200 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,727 / yr
Customize deductions in full Iowa calculator

Auto mechanics pay range in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What auto mechanics earned in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (IA)
10th percentile$17.13/hr$2,969$35,630$30,107
25th percentile$18.69/hr$3,240$38,880$32,594
MedianMedian$23.43/hr$4,060$48,720$40,127
75th percentile$30.07/hr$5,213$62,550$50,714
90th percentile$35.61/hr$6,173$74,070$58,775

Is $48,720 a good salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for auto mechanics next to both.

Median household income$70,811Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)87.112.9% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household68.8%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Auto mechanics pay in other Iowa metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Auto mechanic pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA: common questions

What is the median salary for auto mechanics in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

The BLS median annual wage for auto mechanics in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area was $48,720 in May 2025, about $4,060 a month or $23.43 an hour. Statewide, the Iowa median for this job is $50,510, so the metro pays 4% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for auto mechanics in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

The median hourly wage for auto mechanics in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA was $23.43 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.13 an hour and one in ten earned more than $35.61.

How many auto mechanics work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

BLS estimated 430 jobs for auto mechanics in the metro in May 2025, or 5.1 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.12 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for auto mechanics in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

BLS wage estimates for auto mechanics in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA run from $35,630 at the 10th percentile to $38,880 at the 25th, $62,550 at the 75th, and $74,070 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do auto mechanics take home after taxes in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

On a median gross salary of $48,720, an estimated $40,127 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,543 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,593 (an effective rate of 17.6%).

How much do auto mechanics make per month in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

On the median annual salary of $48,720, gross monthly income is $4,060. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,344 per month (or $1,543 every two weeks).

Is $48,720 a good salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

At $48,720, the median salary for auto mechanics is 68.8% of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA median household income ($70,811). It is 3% above the $47,430 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 87.1, so prices here run 12.9% below the U.S. average.