Cooks, Short Order salary in Ames, IA
Cooks, Short Order in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $36,070 a year ($17.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,710 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 6% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $34,090. There are 1.0 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,520, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| 25th percentile | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Median | $36,070 | $17.34 |
| 75th percentile | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,710 | $22.46 |
| Average (mean) | $35,520 | $17.08 |
Half of cooks, short order 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.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $36,990 | 50 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,760 | 270 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,990 | 50 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $33,880 | 80 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $33,520 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $33,280 | 170 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $32,940 | 80 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $32,710 | 850 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,410 | $17.51 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,900 | $14.37 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,220 | $14.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,710 | $10.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| Bartender | $21,580 | $10.38 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,630 | $14.25 |
| Dishwasher | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $51,360 | $24.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2015. 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, short order make in Ames, IA?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Ames, IA metro area is $36,070 a year, or $17.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $46,710 a year. The top 25% earn $37,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,710 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $29,950 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Ames, IA?
About 60 cooks, short order are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.