Software Engineer salary in Waterloo, IA
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cedar Falls.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $91,200 |
| 25th | $98,500 |
| 50th (median) | $120,000 |
| 75th | $129,645 |
| 90th | $138,320 |
Cost of living
Waterloo's median Software Engineer salary of $120,000 is worth about $137,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Waterloo = 87.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Waterloo, IA area earned a median of $113,970 in May 2025 (280 employed). The H-1B median here is $120,000, 5% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Deere & Company | too few | 4 |
| SciPlay Games | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.