Cooks, Restaurant salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $36,070 a year ($17.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,320 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,010 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $35,670. There are 8.2 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,670 | $14.26 |
| 25th percentile | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| Median | $36,070 | $17.34 |
| 75th percentile | $42,580 | $20.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Average (mean) | $36,980 | $17.78 |
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 | $3,005.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,502.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,387.31 |
| Weekly | $693.65 |
| Hourly | $17.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,910 | 1,060 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,720 | 1,110 |
| 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,320 | $17.46 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,120 | $15.92 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,760 | $17.67 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $20,410 | $9.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,650 | $20.50 |
| Bartender | $22,340 | $10.74 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,790 | $16.25 |
| Dishwasher | $30,450 | $14.64 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,270 | $13.59 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,730 | $13.33 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,290 | $16.49 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $36,070 a year, or $17.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $45,010 a year. The top 25% earn $42,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,670 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $32,910 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 3,320 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.