PermanentPosted today
Pharmacy Technician - Clinical
Veterans Health Administration · Des Moines, IA
$61k–$80k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Pharmacy Technician jobs in Waterloo, IA
Pay for pharmacy technicians in the Waterloo area centers on $18.93 per hour, or about $39,380 a year. The lower quarter earns under $17.48 and the upper quarter over $22.60. That ranks 209th of 386 U.S. metro areas for pharmacy technician pay, and 112th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Waterloo. The free report below lists employers near Waterloo and what they pay.
- $18.93median pay per hour, Waterloo
- $17–$23typical range per hour
- 310pharmacy technicians employed in the metro area
- 87cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Pharmacy Technician pay in Waterloo, IA
The metro median is 5% below the Iowa statewide median of $19.90 per hour. Nationally the median is $20.90 per hour. BLS counts about 310 pharmacy technicians employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area, 3.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.14).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $16.78 | $34,900 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $17.48 | $36,360 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.93 | $39,380 | 9% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.60 | $47,010 | 8% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $24.67 | $51,310 | 18% above U.S. median |
How Waterloo ranks
- 209th of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 112th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 7th of 8 Iowa metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Pharmacy Technicians (SOC 29-2052), 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 $18.93 median hour buys what $21.74 buys at the national price level, 4% 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 Pharmacy Technician pay report
Named employers near Waterloo, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
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Estimated weekly gross$681
- Per year: $34,074
- Per month: $2,840
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 pharmacy technician 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 Pharmacy Technician roles in Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Waterloo as they open.
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20+ more Pharmacy Technician 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 pharmacy technicians.
| 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.
Pharmacy Technician pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 50 mi | $19.70/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $19.69/hr | 76,710 |
| Ames, IA | 72 mi | $19.25/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 83 mi | $20.97/hr | 76,727 |
| Dubuque, IA | 84 mi | $18.89/hr | 58,987 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91 mi | $20.97/hr | 213,096 |
Pharmacy Technician jobs in Iowa · Pharmacy Technician jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
State registration or license, as the state requires. 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 pharmacy technicians make in Waterloo, IA?
Pharmacy Technicians in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area have a median pay of $18.93 per hour, about $39,380 a year. The middle half earn between $17.48 and $22.60 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Waterloo a good place for pharmacy technicians once cost of living is counted?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls ranks 112th of 341 metro areas for pharmacy technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 209th of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.
Where do pharmacy technicians 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 pharmacy technician?
State registration or license, as the state requires. 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.
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 pharmacy technicians 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 pharmacy technicians? 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.
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20+ Pharmacy Technician roles in Iowa, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Pharm Tech pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 7 postings$37.85/ hr$26–$49
- MultiCareAuburn, WA · 20 postings$36.66/ hr$25–$52
- CommonSpirit HealthSanta Maria, CA · 6 postings$35.76/ hr$26–$45
- Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 10 postings$33.39/ hr$25–$40
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
Low$19Median$26.35High$36
310 Pharm Tech postings with published pay in the US, 262 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 Pharm Tech roles
- Pharmacy Technician - ClinicalPermanent$61k–$80k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.