Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $44,610 a year ($21.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,220 for the top 10%. That is 29% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 7% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $47,990. There are 0.70 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $50,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,430 | $16.55 |
| 25th percentile | $41,280 | $19.85 |
| Median | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| 75th percentile | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,220 | $33.28 |
| Average (mean) | $50,740 | $24.40 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,717.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,858.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,715.77 |
| Weekly | $857.88 |
| Hourly | $21.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $62,240 | 330 |
| Ames, IA | $51,360 | 60 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $51,210 | 460 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,590 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,850 | 180 |
| Iowa City, IA | $48,760 | 160 |
| Dubuque, IA | $47,690 | 70 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $44,480 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,820 | $13.38 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,490 | $10.33 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| Bartender | $21,540 | $10.36 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,680 | $17.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,140 | $13.53 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Dishwasher | $28,890 | $13.89 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,050 | $15.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $33,520 | $16.12 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $44,610 a year, or $21.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $69,220 a year. The top 25% earn $60,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,430 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $41,280 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 60 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.