Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in Waterloo, IA
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Waterloo area earn a median of $36.58 per hour, about $76,090 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $35.99 and $45.25. That ranks 318th of 362 U.S. metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay, and 231st of 328 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.
- $36.58median pay per hour, Waterloo
- $36–$45typical range per hour
- 130employed in the metro area
- 87cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Speech-Language Pathologist pay in Waterloo, IA
The metro median is 6% below the Iowa statewide median of $39.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.87 per hour. BLS counts about 130 speech-language pathologists employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area, 1.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.30).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $29.61 | $61,590 | 35% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $35.99 | $74,860 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Median | $36.58 | $76,090 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $45.25 | $94,120 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $49.87 | $103,730 | 9% above U.S. median |
How Waterloo ranks
- 318th of 362 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 231st of 328 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, Speech-Language Pathologists (SOC 29-1127), 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 $36.58 median hour buys what $42.02 buys at the national price level, 8% 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 Speech-Language Pathologist pay report
Named employers near Waterloo, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
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- Per year: $65,844
- Per month: $5,487
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 speech-language pathologist 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).
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 speech-language pathologists.
| 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.
Speech-Language Pathologist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 50 mi | $39.96/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $39.54/hr | 76,710 |
| Ames, IA | 72 mi | $39.94/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 83 mi | $46.11/hr | 76,727 |
| Dubuque, IA | 84 mi | $40.98/hr | 58,987 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91 mi | $46.11/hr | 213,096 |
Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in Iowa · Speech-Language Pathologist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
Master’s degree in speech-language pathology. 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 speech-language pathologists make in Waterloo, IA?
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area have a median pay of $36.58 per hour, about $76,090 a year. The middle half earn between $35.99 and $45.25 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Waterloo a good place for speech-language pathologists once cost of living is counted?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls ranks 231st of 328 metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 318th of 362 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.
Where do speech-language pathologists 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 speech-language pathologist?
Master’s degree in speech-language pathology. 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 speech-language pathologists in Waterloo?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Waterloo and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Waterloo.
What do employers near Waterloo pay speech-language pathologists? 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+ Speech-Language Pathologist 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.
Your SLP pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- AmedisysButler, GA · 3 postings$73.50/ hr$49–$85
- BrightSpring Health ServicesESCONDIDO, CA · 7 postings$62.50/ hr$60–$65
- CommonSpirit HealthOXNARD, CA · 5 postings$61.91/ hr$50–$77
- Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 4 postings$60.17/ hr$48–$79
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
203 SLP postings with published pay in the US, 154 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open SLP roles
Open SLP roles near Waterloo, IA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.