Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Southwest Iowa

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $32,850 -9.9% vs national
Median hourly $15.79
10th percentile $26,460
90th percentile $39,510
Employed locally 650
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,460
    25th
    $29,480
    50th (median)
    $32,850
    75th
    $36,430
    90th
    $39,510

    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

    Related occupations in Southwest Iowa

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,630
    Waiters and Waitresses$21,780
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,870
    Cooks, Restaurant$30,490
    Food Preparation Workers$28,640
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$28,120

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Southwest Iowa?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Southwest Iowa is $15.79, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.05 or more per hour.

    Is Southwest Iowa above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Southwest Iowa is 9.9% 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 Southwest Iowa?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $26,460 per year in Southwest Iowa. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,480.