Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $35,360 -3% vs national
Median hourly $17.00
10th percentile $23,300
90th percentile $44,050
Employed locally 1,720
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,300
    25th
    $30,330
    50th (median)
    $35,360
    75th
    $37,800
    90th
    $44,050

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 58% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $47,700
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $46,760
    California $45,680
    District of Columbia $45,600
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $45,270
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $45,150

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,010
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,840
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,430
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,480
    Bartenders $23,430
    Cooks, Fast Food $29,680

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Des Moines, IA is $17.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.78 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Des Moines, IA is 3% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Des Moines?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $23,300 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,330.