Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Iowa
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Iowa earn a median of $35,810 a year ($17.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,860 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,150 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,450. Iowa ranks 37th of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 5.7 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,260, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,030 | $13.48 |
| 25th percentile | $30,970 | $14.89 |
| Median | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| 75th percentile | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,150 | $21.23 |
| Average (mean) | $35,260 | $16.95 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $2,984.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,492.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,377.31 |
| Weekly | $688.65 |
| Hourly | $17.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $36,890 | 290 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $36,750 | 1,890 |
| Iowa City, IA | $36,670 | 510 |
| Ames, IA | $36,540 | 380 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $36,410 | 770 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,320 | 1,670 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,030 | 360 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,740 | 840 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $35,680 | 500 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,090 | $16.39 |
| Cooks, All Other | $26,060 | $12.53 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,000 | $10.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| Bartender | $21,720 | $10.44 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Dishwasher | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $47,990 | $23.07 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2012. 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Iowa?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Iowa is $35,810 a year, or $17.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Iowa?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Iowa earn at least $44,150 a year. The top 25% earn $37,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,030 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $30,970 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Iowa?
About 8,860 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.