Cooks, Restaurant salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn a median of $35,720 a year ($17.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,550 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is about the same as the Iowa statewide median of $35,670. There are 8.0 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,450, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Cedar Rapids, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,670 | $13.79 |
| 25th percentile | $30,330 | $14.58 |
| Median | $35,720 | $17.17 |
| 75th percentile | $38,010 | $18.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,550 | $21.42 |
| Average (mean) | $35,450 | $17.04 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,976.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,488.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,373.85 |
| Weekly | $686.92 |
| Hourly | $17.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $37,840 | 2,850 |
| Ames, IA | $36,410 | 570 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,270 | 560 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,070 | 3,320 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,910 | 1,060 |
| Dubuque, IA | $35,610 | 440 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,480 | 1,560 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $35,420 | 670 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,410 | $17.51 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,940 | $14.87 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,940 | $15.84 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,280 | $13.60 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,670 | $10.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| Bartender | $21,600 | $10.38 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,940 | $14.40 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,020 | $13.95 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,050 | $13.49 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $44,480 | $21.39 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Cedar Rapids, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area is $35,720 a year, or $17.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn at least $44,550 a year. The top 25% earn $38,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,670 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,330 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Cedar Rapids, IA?
About 1,110 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.