Food Service Manager salary in Iowa
Food Service Managers in Iowa earn a median of $66,700 a year ($32.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,170 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $69,390. Iowa ranks 29th of 51 states for food service managers pay. There are 1.1 food service managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $69,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food service managers in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,610 | $21.93 |
| 25th percentile | $52,850 | $25.41 |
| Median | $66,700 | $32.07 |
| 75th percentile | $77,860 | $37.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,170 | $48.16 |
| Average (mean) | $69,950 | $33.63 |
Half of food service managers 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 | $5,558.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,779.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,565.38 |
| Weekly | $1,282.69 |
| Hourly | $32.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Service Manager salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $76,910 | 90 |
| Iowa City, IA | $75,150 | 140 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $66,860 | 410 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $64,220 | 80 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $63,650 | 100 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $62,940 | 910 |
| Ames, IA | $62,590 | 100 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $62,230 | 130 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,930 | 270 |
Highest-paying states for food service managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $95,190 |
| Massachusetts | $92,240 |
| Hawaii | $87,800 |
| New York | $84,200 |
| Rhode Island | $82,850 |
| Alaska | $82,030 |
| District of Columbia | $81,680 |
| Colorado | $79,870 |
| Minnesota | $79,820 |
| California | $78,260 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $101,940 | $49.01 |
| Managers, All Other | $128,080 | $61.58 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $104,260 | — |
| Construction Manager | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $65,940 | $31.70 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $89,320 | $42.94 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $57,980 | $27.88 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $147,320 | $70.83 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $47,480 | $22.83 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $68,320 | $32.85 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $109,760 | $52.77 |
| Lodging Manager | $59,680 | $28.69 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $92,970 | $44.70 |
| Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | $93,160 | $44.79 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-9051. 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 service manager make in Iowa?
The median salary for food service managers in Iowa is $66,700 a year, or $32.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food service managers make in Iowa?
The top 10% of food service managers in Iowa earn at least $100,170 a year. The top 25% earn $77,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for food service managers in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,610 a year, and a quarter of food service managers earn $52,850 or less.
How many food service managers work in Iowa?
About 1,760 food service managers are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.