Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Iowa City, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Iowa City, IA

Median annual salary $29,140 -3.4% vs national
Median hourly $14.01
10th percentile $22,560
90th percentile $37,240
Employed locally 330
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Iowa City, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,560
    25th
    $27,400
    50th (median)
    $29,140
    75th
    $36,020
    90th
    $37,240

    Iowa City economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $74,142 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 39% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 61% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $38,350
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $37,010
    North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $36,430
    California $36,410
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $36,200
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $36,190

    Related occupations in Iowa City, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,610
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,520
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,880
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,240
    Bartenders $22,880
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $36,230

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Iowa City?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Iowa City, IA is $14.01, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.09 or more per hour.

    Is Iowa City above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Iowa City, IA is 3.4% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Iowa City?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $22,560 per year in Iowa City, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,400.