Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Iowa

In Iowa, the median pay for fast food and counter workers is $13.65 an hour ($28,390 a year). About 40,290 people work in this job there.

$13.65Median hourly pay

$26,150–$33,440Middle half of workers, yearly

40,290People in this job in Iowa

That is 9% lower than the U.S. median ($31,200). Iowa ranks 38th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Iowa

Earns more than	Hourly	Yearly
10% of workers	$10.39	$21,620
25% of workers	$12.57	$26,150
Half of workers (median)	$13.65	$28,390
75% of workers	$16.08	$33,440
90% of workers	$17.30	$35,990

Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in Iowa metro areas

Metro area	Median yearly pay	People in this job
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	$31,200	4,810
Ames	$29,220	1,620
Des Moines-West Des Moines	$29,140	10,060
Sioux City	$29,090	2,060
Iowa City	$28,760	2,890
Dubuque	$28,680	1,600
Cedar Rapids	$28,280	3,590
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	$27,820	2,500

Iowa unemployment rate: 3.2% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for fast food and counter workers

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
Job outlook: +5.8% over ten years, faster than average · about 827,400 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Iowa

Job	Median yearly pay
Waiters and Waitresses	$21,000
Cooks, Restaurant	$35,670
Bartenders	$21,720
Cooks, Fast Food	$28,510
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant	$30,110
Food Preparation Workers	$30,360
Dishwashers	$29,300
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	$28,210

Other job titles for this job

ConcessionaireDietary AideFast Food WorkerFood Service WorkerSandwich ArtistBack of House Team MemberBoh Team MemberCatering AssistantCoffee BrewerCoffee MakerFood ServerKitchen Team Member

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Source: 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.