NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Metro Market Score 32.7 (Favorable), ranked #22 of 298 metros. 383 establishments, 6,769 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 32.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national accommodation and food services average.

⚡Rising Wages🌱Emerging Market

Few accommodation and food services firms have established themselves in Waterloo-Cedar Falls yet. The concentration index of 23.1 is well below the metro median, while employment growth is positive (trend: 63.4). That combination points to a market still building out.

Industry Concentration
23.1
LQ: 0.88
Rank #69 of 298 metros
Wage Competitiveness
7.4
$20,174 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 63.4
Employment growth index
Rank #110 of 298 metros
Wage Pressure
70.3
YoY wage change index

383 Accommodation and Food Services Firms in Waterloo-Cedar Falls

383
Establishments
+3.2% YoY
6,769
Total Employment
+1.0% YoY
$20,174
Average Annual Wage
+3.2% YoY
0.88
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Waterloo-Cedar Falls vs Iowa Statewide

How this metro's accommodation and food services market compares to Iowa overall. The state ranks #29/51 for entry risk.

Measure Waterloo-Cedar Falls IA Statewide
Overall Score 32.7 Favorable 39.0 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #22 of 298 metros #29 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Waterloo-Cedar Falls

Administrative and Support Services 34.3 Construction 37.4 Information 48.5 Retail Trade 51.3 Other Services 67.9

Accommodation and Food Services in Other Iowa Metros

Dubuque 24.7 #5/298 Ames 26.3 #7/298 Des Moines-West Des Moines 33.8 #25/298 Cedar Rapids 34.4 #28/298 Sioux City 42.9 #65/298 Iowa City 44.5 #80/298 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island 57.3 #167/298

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Waterloo-Cedar Falls's accommodation and food services sector, the wage pressure component (70.3) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.