PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Associate Dentist
Aspen Dental · Ottumwa, IA
$200k–$230k/ year
Dentist jobs in Waterloo, IA
Pay for dentists in the Waterloo area centers on $92.94 per hour, or about $193,310 a year. The lower quarter earns under $73.59 and the upper quarter over $96.62. That ranks 74th of 302 U.S. metro areas for dentist pay, and 26th of 279 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Waterloo.
- $92.94median pay per hour, Waterloo
- $74–$97typical range per hour
- 40dentists employed in the metro area
- 87cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dentist pay in Waterloo, IA
The metro median is 10% above the Iowa statewide median of $84.13 per hour. Nationally the median is $83.07 per hour. BLS counts about 40 dentists, general employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.56).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $53.97 | $112,260 | 35% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $73.59 | $153,070 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Median | $92.94 | $193,310 | 12% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $96.62 | $200,970 | 16% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $115+ | $239,200+ | 38% above U.S. median |
How Waterloo ranks
- 74th of 302 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 26th of 279 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 7 Iowa metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021), all industries. Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum. 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 $92.94 median hour buys what $106.76 buys at the national price level, 29% 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 Dentist 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$3,346
- Per year: $167,292
- Per month: $13,941
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.
Open Dentist roles in Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Waterloo as they open.
For youUpdated weekly
20+ more Dentist 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.
- Free
- No card
- Email only, no calls
Dental health shortage areas in Black Hawk County
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Black Hawk County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 25 on a 0 to 26 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for dentists, hygienists and dental assistants 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.
Dentist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 50 mi | $77.84/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $82.98/hr | 76,710 |
| Ames, IA | 72 mi | $84.13/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 83 mi | $96.85/hr | 76,727 |
| Dubuque, IA | 84 mi | $94.32/hr | 58,987 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91 mi | $96.85/hr | 213,096 |
License and tax basics in Iowa
Active dental license in the state of the job. 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 dentists make in Waterloo, IA?
Dentists in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area have a median pay of $92.94 per hour, about $193,310 a year. The middle half earn between $73.59 and $96.62 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Waterloo a good place for dentists once cost of living is counted?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls ranks 26th of 279 metro areas for dentist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 74th of 302 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Waterloo as a dentist?
Active dental license in the state of the job. 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 dental health 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.
Does Valorem Health place dentists in Waterloo?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Waterloo and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Waterloo.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Waterloo pay dentists? 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 employers
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.
Get your free pay report
20+ Dentist 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 Dentist pay reportWaterloo, IA · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Community Health Care, Inc.Davenport, IA · 1 wage offer$96.15/ hr$96–$96
- Dental Connections, Inc.Des Moines, IA · 2 wage offers$95.02/ hr$77–$120
- Iowa Dental Health Professionals PCAnkeny, IA · 1 wage offer$93.75/ hr$94–$94
- Primary Health Care, Inc.Des Moines, IA · 1 wage offer$91.35/ hr$91–$91
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$41Median$87.74High$97
9 employer-reported wage offers for Dentist in federal filings in Iowa, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 Dentist roles
- Associate DentistPermanent$200k–$230k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.