Waiters and Waitresses salary in Iowa
Waiters and Waitresses in Iowa earn a median of $21,000 a year ($10.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 22,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,980 for the top 10%. That is 40% lower than the national median of $35,230. Iowa ranks 47th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 14 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $26,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Median | $21,000 | $10.10 |
| 75th percentile | $35,370 | $17.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Average (mean) | $26,940 | $12.95 |
Half of waiters and waitresses 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 | $1,750 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $875 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $807.69 |
| Weekly | $403.85 |
| Hourly | $10.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $34,290 | 7,620 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 2,680 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $26,430 | 1,030 |
| Ames, IA | $22,710 | 1,010 |
| Iowa City, IA | $22,030 | 1,890 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $21,670 | 1,920 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $21,490 | 1,280 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $20,410 | 6,250 |
| Dubuque, IA | $20,060 | 810 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| Bartender | $21,720 | $10.44 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| 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 35-3031. 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 waiters and waitresses make in Iowa?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Iowa is $21,000 a year, or $10.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Iowa?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Iowa earn at least $47,980 a year. The top 25% earn $35,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $15,080 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Iowa?
About 22,410 waiters and waitresses are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.