Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Iowa
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Iowa earn a median of $30,110 a year ($14.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,270 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,600 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $35,360. Iowa ranks 44th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 3.4 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $31,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,020 | $12.99 |
| 25th percentile | $28,440 | $13.68 |
| Median | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| 75th percentile | $34,610 | $16.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,600 | $17.60 |
| Average (mean) | $31,000 | $14.91 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,509.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,254.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,158.08 |
| Weekly | $579.04 |
| Hourly | $14.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $33,790 | 1,060 |
| Dubuque, IA | $32,270 | 230 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $32,150 | 1,690 |
| Ames, IA | $31,840 | 180 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,730 | 630 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $31,290 | 230 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $29,940 | 470 |
| Iowa City, IA | $29,350 | 250 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $28,140 | 390 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,000 | $10.10 |
| Bartender | $21,720 | $10.44 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| 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 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,090 | $16.39 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,480 | $16.10 |
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 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in Iowa?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Iowa is $30,110 a year, or $14.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Iowa?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Iowa earn at least $36,600 a year. The top 25% earn $34,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,020 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $28,440 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Iowa?
About 5,270 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.