Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Des Moines, IA

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

Median annual salary $36,430 -1.1% vs national
Median hourly $17.52
10th percentile $25,750
90th percentile $48,210
Employed locally 3,650
National median $36,830

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $25,750
    25th
    $31,460
    50th (median)
    $36,430
    75th
    $43,260
    90th
    $48,210

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 43% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 57% 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 Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,010
    Waiters and Waitresses$28,840
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$40,480
    Bartenders$23,430
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$35,360
    Cooks, Fast Food$29,680

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Des Moines, IA is $17.52, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.64 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Des Moines, IA is 1.1% 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 Des Moines?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $25,750 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,460.