Cooks, Restaurant pay in Iowa
In Iowa, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $17.15 an hour ($35,670 a year). About 12,270 people work in this job there.
That is 5% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). Iowa ranks 38th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Iowa
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.79 | $28,690 |
| 25% of workers | $14.60 | $30,360 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.15 | $35,670 |
| 75% of workers | $18.36 | $38,180 |
| 90% of workers | $21.38 | $44,460 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Iowa metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Ames | $36,410 | 570 |
| Sioux City | $36,270 | 560 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $36,070 | 3,320 |
| Iowa City | $35,910 | 1,060 |
| Cedar Rapids | $35,720 | 1,110 |
| Dubuque | $35,610 | 440 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $35,480 | 1,560 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $35,420 | 670 |
Iowa unemployment rate: 3.2% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,810 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,510 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,750 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $30,360 |
| Food Batchmakers | $48,300 |
| Bakers | $37,210 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $47,990 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,090 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.