PermanentPosted today
Nursing Assistant - Mental Health
Veterans Health Administration · Des Moines, IA
$42k–$69k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Waterloo, IA
Certified Nursing Assistants in the Waterloo area earn a median of $18.31 per hour, about $38,090 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $17.26 and $20.77. That ranks 195th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 64th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Waterloo. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Waterloo.
- $18.31median pay per hour, Waterloo
- $17–$21typical range per hour
- 1,400employed in the metro area
- 87cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Waterloo, IA
The metro median is 1% below the Iowa statewide median of $18.57 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 1,400 nursing assistants employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area, 16.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.81).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $16.25 | $33,800 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $17.26 | $35,900 | 9% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.31 | $38,090 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $20.77 | $43,200 | 9% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $22.15 | $46,070 | 17% above U.S. median |
How Waterloo ranks
- 195th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 64th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th of 8 Iowa metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Waterloo
- Overall prices in Waterloo-Cedar Falls run 13% below the U.S. average (index 87.1, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 37% below the U.S. average (index 63.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.31 median hour buys what $21.03 buys at the national price level, 11% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Waterloo Certified Nursing Assistant pay report
Named employers near Waterloo, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Waterloo paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$659
- Per year: $32,958
- Per month: $2,746
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Waterloo
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel certified nursing assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Waterloo as they open.
PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Nursing Assistant - Community Living Center - Dementia
Veterans Health Administration · Des Moines, IA
$42k–$69k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
40+ more Certified Nursing Assistant roles for you in Iowa
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 22 days ago
Nursing Assistant (NA) - Full-Time Day Shift
Select Medical · Des Moines, IA
$18.00–$21.94/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
CNA
CommonSpirit Health · Missouri Valley, IA
$17.24–$24.35/ hour
Hospitals in Waterloo
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Waterloo, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center Waterloo, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Allen Hospital Waterloo, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Black Hawk County
HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Black Hawk County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 17 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Certified Nursing Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 50 mi | $18.87/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $18.22/hr | 76,710 |
| Ames, IA | 72 mi | $18.81/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 83 mi | $19.13/hr | 76,727 |
| Dubuque, IA | 84 mi | $19.45/hr | 58,987 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91 mi | $19.13/hr | 213,096 |
Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Iowa · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Waterloo
Waterloo city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do certified nursing assistants make in Waterloo, IA?
Certified Nursing Assistants in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area have a median pay of $18.31 per hour, about $38,090 a year. The middle half earn between $17.26 and $20.77 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Waterloo a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls ranks 64th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 195th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.
Where do certified nursing assistants work in Waterloo?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Waterloo, led by Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Waterloo as a certified nursing assistant?
State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Waterloo in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Black Hawk County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Waterloo?
The federal per diem benchmark in Waterloo is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place certified nursing assistants in Waterloo?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Waterloo and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Waterloo.
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What do employers near Waterloo pay certified nursing assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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40+ Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Iowa, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your CNA pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Veterans Health AdministrationDes Moines, IA · 2 postings$26.75/ hr$20–$33
- CommonSpirit HealthBURIEN, WA · 7 postings$31.52/ hr$23–$41
- Emanate HealthCovina, CA · 6 postings$28.75/ hr$21–$34
- MultiCareTacoma, WA · 105 postings$28.55/ hr$21–$44
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
Low$17Median$23.77High$33
4 CNA postings with published pay in Iowa, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 4 CNA roles
- Nursing Assistant - Mental HealthPermanent$42k–$69k/ year
- Nursing Assistant - Community Living Center - DementiaPermanent$42k–$69k/ year
+ 2 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.