Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Ames, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Ames, IA

Median annual salary $36,310 -1.4% vs national
Median hourly $17.46
10th percentile $29,100
90th percentile $50,110
Employed locally 640
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,100
    25th
    $31,200
    50th (median)
    $36,310
    75th
    $43,510
    90th
    $50,110

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 49% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $45,230
    California $44,290
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $43,420
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $43,320
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $43,070
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $42,140

    Related occupations in Ames, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,890
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,660
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,290
    Bartenders $22,610
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,330
    Cooks, Fast Food $28,910

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Ames, IA is $17.46, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.17 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Ames, IA is 1.4% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Ames?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $29,100 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,200.