Cooks, Restaurant salary in Iowa
Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa earn a median of $35,670 a year ($17.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,270 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,460 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $37,390. Iowa ranks 38th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 7.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,690 | $13.79 |
| 25th percentile | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Median | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| 75th percentile | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,460 | $21.38 |
| Average (mean) | $35,700 | $17.16 |
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 | $2,972.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,486.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,371.92 |
| Weekly | $685.96 |
| Hourly | $17.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Iowa
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Iowa?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Iowa is $35,670 a year, or $17.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Iowa?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Iowa earn at least $44,460 a year. The top 25% earn $38,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,690 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,360 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Iowa?
About 12,270 cooks, restaurant are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.