Bathroom remodel cost in Waterloo, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,450 – $22,200
- Per sq ft
- $95.50 – $478
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #152
- 1 = most expensive
Waterloo homeowners pay roughly $4,450 to $22,200 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $95.50 to $478 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Waterloo is 5% lower. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
Estimate your bathroom remodel cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Waterloo, IA, standard level
$9,800 to $16,900
About $210 to $363 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $7,200 |
| Labor | $5,300 | $9,150 |
| Permits and fees | $330 | $540 |
| Total | $9,800 | $16,900 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Waterloo, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $5,700 | $9,500 | 43% |
| Labor | $2,400 | $7,200 | $12,000 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $440 | $700 | 3% |
| Total | $4,450 | $13,300 | $22,200 | 100% |
Where the Waterloo price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 6 trades: plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 25%, tile and stone setters at 25%, carpenters at 20%, electricians at 10%, drywall and ceiling tile installers at 10%, painters, construction and maintenance at 10%. Weighted together, Waterloo wages are 0.97 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (53% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Waterloo metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $5,700, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.1) and land at $170 to $700.
Data note: 35% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Waterloo. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Waterloo
Because every project leans on different trades, Waterloo's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen backsplash runs −5% and kitchen cabinets −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $900 – $2,650 | −5% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,500 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $13,000 | −7% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,300 – $14,200 | −5% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,450 | −5% |
Waterloo: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Waterloo wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,450 to $11,600
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$9,800 to $16,900
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$15,100 to $22,200
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,100 – $5,350 | $4,550 – $7,800 | $7,000 – $10,300 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,000 – $10,300 | $8,750 – $15,100 | $13,500 – $19,800 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,900 – $15,300 | $12,900 – $22,300 | $20,000 – $29,400 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $9,750 – $25,200 | $21,400 – $36,900 | $33,000 – $48,500 |
How Waterloo compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 45 sq ft range from $13,000 to $15,200 across Waterloo and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IAthis page | $4,450 – $22,200 | $13,300 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA55 miles | $4,600 – $22,900 | $13,700 | +3% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | level |
| Iowa City, IA80 miles | $4,350 – $21,600 | $13,000 | −3% |
| Des Moines, IA95 miles | $4,650 – $23,100 | $13,900 | +4% |
| Rochester, MN100 miles | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,200 | +14% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $4,450 – $22,200 | $13,300 | level |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Waterloo comes in at #152 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Waterloo is 0% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $4,650 – $23,100 | $13,900 | +4% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $4,750 – $23,600 | $14,200 | +6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $4,600 – $22,900 | $13,700 | +3% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $4,350 – $21,600 | $13,000 | −3% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $4,400 – $21,900 | $13,200 | −1% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Waterloo's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Waterloo against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +8% |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | −7% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | −7% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $4,350 – $21,500 | $12,900 | −3% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 6 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Waterloo is 0.97 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $29.91 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.45 and $36.96 an hour. BLS counts 220 of them working in the area, 26.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Waterloo metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $26.13 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.11 and $34.11 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $26.85 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.07 and $29.81 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 30.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.49 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.10 and $38.89 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 42.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Waterloo metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $24.53 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.54 and $29.70 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.44 an hour, which is 11% above the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $21.43 and $29.67 an hour. BLS counts 110 of them working in the area, 13.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.96 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $430. At the 25th percentile ($23.45) it shrinks by about $390. The total moves by 3.2% or 2.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 84,260 jobs in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area. That makes it the 229th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $23.45 | $29.91 | $36.96 | $30.67 | 0.98 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $23.11 | $26.13 | $34.11 | $26.77 | 0.98 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $23.07 | $26.85 | $29.81 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.10 | $30.49 | $38.89 | $30.38 | 1.00 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $21.54 | $24.53 | $29.70 | $28.33 | 0.87 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $21.43 | $26.44 | $29.67 | $23.75 | 1.11 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Waterloo bid
Permit
A bathroom remodel permit is $200-$800, more if you move walls (HomeGuide).
Size
HomeGuide's average-size bathroom comes to $3,500-$25,000+; per square foot it's $100-$500.
Tile
New tile costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and regrouting runs $7-$28 per square foot.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $9,800 to $16,900 for Waterloo, IA is attached.
Detailed bathroom remodel report for Waterloo, IA, $9
Multi-page report for Waterloo, IA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Bathroom remodel in Waterloo: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Waterloo?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,450 to $22,200 in the Waterloo area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,800 to $16,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Waterloo?
About $95.50 to $478 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $170 to $700 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Waterloo or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $13,700, which is 3% more than Waterloo ($13,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Waterloo?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $7,200 out of $13,300. Materials are 43% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Waterloo?
$5,900 to $29,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Waterloo?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $170 to $700 for fees in the Waterloo area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Waterloo expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Iowa?
Waterloo is 0% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($13,300 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Waterloo?
The BLS median is $29.91 an hour in the Waterloo area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.45 to $36.96.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Waterloo?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,450 to $11,600 and premium work $15,100 to $22,200. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Waterloo
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 45% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range split for bathroom projects (50% labor, 45% materials, 5% permits and design). Their sample is their own guides, not a survey of contractors, so treat the split as approximate.