Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Cedar Rapids

Written by:
February 17, 2021
Grace Nichols // U.S. Air Force

Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Cedar Rapids

Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.

As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.

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#32. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $29,800
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#31. Nursing assistants

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $29,950
- #170 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,530

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#30. Phlebotomists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $31,660
- #234 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
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Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#29. Pharmacy technicians

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $32,970
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#28. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $34,640
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
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Rido // Shutterstock

#27. Opticians, dispensing

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $35,300
- #178 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)
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Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#26. Medical assistants

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $38,030
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
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NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#25. Massage therapists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $39,600
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($76,930)
--- Yakima, WA ($72,870)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($70,090)
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Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

#24. Surgical technologists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $40,500
- #239 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
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Canva

#23. Ophthalmic medical technicians

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $40,770
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#22. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $43,100
- #286 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#21. Dental assistants

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $47,760
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
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lenetstan // Shutterstock

#20. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $47,980
- #319 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#19. Athletic trainers

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $49,820
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#18. Respiratory therapists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $54,030
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
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#17. Occupational therapy assistants

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $55,450
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)
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#16. Physical therapist assistants

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $56,750
- #169 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
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#15. Dietitians and nutritionists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $58,200
- #167 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#14. Registered nurses

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- #337 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
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#13. Speech-language pathologists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $67,690
- #305 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
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SofikoS // Shutterstock

#12. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $72,490
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
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Canva

#11. Dental hygienists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $73,250
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)
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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock

#10. Occupational therapists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $75,390
- #279 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
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Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#9. Physical therapists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $79,170
- #348 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)
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KSai23 // Shutterstock

#8. Chiropractors

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $92,720
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
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Austin Community College // Flickr

#7. Veterinarians

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $99,840
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#6. Nurse practitioners

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $108,700
- #166 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
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Grace Nichols // U.S. Air Force

#5. Pharmacists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $113,040
- #351 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)
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Ohiodominican // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Physician assistants

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $117,190
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)
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Canva

#3. Dentists, general

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $138,570
- #259 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)
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Kzenon // Shutterstock

#2. Optometrists

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $156,850
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)
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#1. Family medicine physicians

Cedar Rapids, IA
- Annual mean salary: $259,860
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)

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