Per diemPosted 30+ days ago
Physical Therapist - PRN
Select Medical · State Center, IA
$40.00–$55.00/ hour
Physical Therapist jobs in Waterloo, IA
Pay for physical therapists in the Waterloo area centers on $40.87 per hour, or about $85,010 a year. The lower quarter earns under $38.43 and the upper quarter over $49.18. That ranks 353rd of 375 U.S. metro areas for physical therapist pay, and 273rd of 338 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.
- $40.87median pay per hour, Waterloo
- $38–$49typical range per hour
- 160physical therapists employed in the metro area
- 87cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Physical Therapist pay in Waterloo, IA
The metro median is 11% below the Iowa statewide median of $46.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $48.57 per hour. BLS counts about 160 physical therapists employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area, 1.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.19).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $36.97 | $76,900 | 24% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $38.43 | $79,930 | 21% below U.S. median |
| Median | $40.87 | $85,010 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $49.18 | $102,290 | 1% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $54.76 | $113,900 | 13% above U.S. median |
How Waterloo ranks
- 353rd of 375 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 273rd of 338 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, Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123), 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 $40.87 median hour buys what $46.95 buys at the national price level, 3% below 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 Physical Therapist 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$1,471
- Per year: $73,566
- Per month: $6,130
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 physical therapist 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 Physical Therapist roles in Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Waterloo as they open.
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Physical Therapist
Select Medical · State Center, IA
$73k–$100k/ year
For youUpdated weekly
20+ more Physical Therapist 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 physical therapists.
| 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.
Physical Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 50 mi | $41.21/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $40.81/hr | 76,710 |
| Ames, IA | 72 mi | $41.56/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 83 mi | $47.17/hr | 76,727 |
| Dubuque, IA | 84 mi | $46.31/hr | 58,987 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91 mi | $47.17/hr | 213,096 |
Physical Therapist jobs in Iowa · Physical Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
DPT degree. 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 physical therapists make in Waterloo, IA?
Physical Therapists in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area have a median pay of $40.87 per hour, about $85,010 a year. The middle half earn between $38.43 and $49.18 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Waterloo a good place for physical therapists once cost of living is counted?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls ranks 273rd of 338 metro areas for physical therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 353rd of 375 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.
Where do physical therapists 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 physical therapist?
DPT degree. 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 physical therapists 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 physical therapists? 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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20+ Physical Therapist roles in Iowa, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your PT pay reportWaterloo, IA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- UnityPoint at HomeCedar Rapids, IA · 1 wage offer$52.98/ hr$53–$53
- Select MedicalState Center, IA · 2 postings$44.55/ hr$35–$55
- UnityPoint At HomeFort Dodge, IA · 1 wage offer$40.66/ hr$41–$41
- Grandison Management, Inc.Iowa · 7 wage offers$32.09/ hr$32–$32
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$32Median$32.09High$34
10 employer-reported wage offers for PT in federal filings in Iowa, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 2 PT roles
- Physical Therapist - PRNPer diem$40.00–$55.00/ hour
- Physical TherapistPermanent$73k–$100k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.