PermanentPosted today
Medical Assistant Certified
CommonSpirit Health · Council Bluffs, IA
$18.96–$26.78/ hour
New this week
Medical Assistant jobs in Waterloo, IA
Pay for medical assistants in the Waterloo area centers on $21.56 per hour, or about $44,830 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.53 and the upper quarter over $22.34. That ranks 112th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 13th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Waterloo. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Waterloo.
- $21.56median pay per hour, Waterloo
- $19–$22typical range per hour
- 350medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 87cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Waterloo, IA
The metro median is 3% above the Iowa statewide median of $21.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 350 medical assistants employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area, 4.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.79).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.18 | $35,730 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.53 | $38,540 | 13% below U.S. median |
| Median | $21.56 | $44,830 | 1% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.34 | $46,470 | 5% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $22.53 | $46,860 | 6% above U.S. median |
How Waterloo ranks
- 112th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 13th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd of 8 Iowa metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092), 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 $21.56 median hour buys what $24.77 buys at the national price level, 17% 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 Medical 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$776
- Per year: $38,808
- Per month: $3,234
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 medical 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 Medical Assistant roles in Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Waterloo as they open.
PermanentPosted 22 days ago
Medical Assistant
Avera Health · Spencer, IA
$20.00–$28.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
35+ more Medical Assistant roles for you in Iowa
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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 medical 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.
Medical Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 50 mi | $21.78/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $19.35/hr | 76,710 |
| Ames, IA | 72 mi | $21.55/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 83 mi | $21.97/hr | 76,727 |
| Dubuque, IA | 84 mi | $20.23/hr | 58,987 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91 mi | $21.97/hr | 213,096 |
Medical Assistant jobs in Iowa · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. 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 medical assistants make in Waterloo, IA?
Medical Assistants in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area have a median pay of $21.56 per hour, about $44,830 a year. The middle half earn between $18.53 and $22.34 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Waterloo a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls ranks 13th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 112th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical 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 medical assistant?
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. 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 medical 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 medical 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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35+ Medical Assistant roles in Iowa, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Medical Assistant pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 11 postings$33.96/ hr$27–$41
- CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 21 postings$31.77/ hr$26–$42
- Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 11 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$37
- Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 4 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$34
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
Low$19Median$26.02High$33
1193 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in the US, 1009 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 2 Medical Assistant roles
- Medical Assistant CertifiedPermanent$18.96–$26.78/ hour
- Medical AssistantPermanent$20.00–$28.00/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.