Cooks, Short Order salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Cooks, Short Order in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $33,520 a year ($16.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,990 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 2% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $34,090. There are 0.73 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,600 | $12.31 |
| 25th percentile | $30,620 | $14.72 |
| Median | $33,520 | $16.12 |
| 75th percentile | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Average (mean) | $35,160 | $16.90 |
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 | $2,793.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,396.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,289.23 |
| Weekly | $644.62 |
| Hourly | $16.12 |
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 |
| Ames, IA | $36,070 | 60 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,990 | 50 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $33,880 | 80 |
| 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,420 | $17.03 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,680 | $17.16 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,050 | $15.41 |
| 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 35-2015. 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $33,520 a year, or $16.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $47,990 a year. The top 25% earn $37,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,600 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $30,620 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 60 cooks, short order are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.