Quick answer:Industrial Production Managers in the Waterloo area earn a median $102,810 per year, below the national median of $126,060, and the metro employs about 170 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Industrial Technology Pay in Waterloo, IA
Metric
Waterloo metro
Iowa
National
Median annual wage
$102,810
$106,510
$126,060
10th percentile
$76,270
$74,830
$78,000
25th percentile
$85,990
$90,990
$98,160
75th percentile
$128,320
$133,140
$161,880
90th percentile
$173,400
$171,910
$205,520
Employment
170
3,620
246,250
Location quotient
1.27
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Waterloo median of $102,810 is below the national median of $126,060, and below the Iowa statewide median of $106,510 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.27 means industrial production managers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Production management demand follows the region’s manufacturing base directly, so it is concentrated in industrial states rather than spread with population.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Production management is not a licensed occupation. What employers screen on is demonstrated plant experience plus, increasingly, Lean and Six Sigma certification from private bodies. Safety regulation through OSHA governs the facility rather than the manager as an individual.
See the Iowa licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with the employers and certifying bodies you are targeting.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
How much do industrial production managers make in Waterloo?
The median annual wage for industrial production managers in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $102,810, below the national median of $126,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many industrial production managers work in the Waterloo area?
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area employs about 170 industrial production managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do industrial production managers in Waterloo need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Production management is not a licensed occupation. What employers screen on is demonstrated plant experience plus, increasingly, Lean and Six Sigma certification from private bodies. Safety regulation through OSHA governs the facility rather than the manager as an individual. Confirm current requirements with the employers and certifying bodies you are targeting.
Can I study industrial technology online from Waterloo?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the employers and certifying bodies you are targeting.
Is Waterloo a better market than the rest of Iowa?
The Waterloo metro median is $102,810 against a statewide median of $106,510 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Industrial Production Managers (SOC 11-3051), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
