Cooks, Restaurant salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $35,420 a year ($17.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 670 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,170 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% lower than 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, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,910 | $13.90 |
| 25th percentile | $30,500 | $14.66 |
| Median | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| 75th percentile | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,170 | $21.24 |
| 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 | $2,951.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,475.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,362.31 |
| Weekly | $681.15 |
| Hourly | $17.03 |
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 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,720 | 1,110 |
| Dubuque, IA | $35,610 | 440 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,480 | 1,560 |
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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,680 | $17.16 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,050 | $15.41 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $33,520 | $16.12 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,820 | $13.38 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,490 | $10.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Bartender | $21,540 | $10.36 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,140 | $13.53 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Dishwasher | $28,890 | $13.89 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $44,610 | $21.45 |
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 35-2014. 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $35,420 a year, or $17.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $44,170 a year. The top 25% earn $37,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,910 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,500 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 670 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.