Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Iowa

BLS OEWS May 2025 • 12 metro areas • Iowa

Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa earn a median salary of $34,153 per year on average across 12 metro and nonmetro areas, -7.3% vs the national median of $36,830. An estimated 13,710 cooks, restaurant are employed across Iowa, with salaries ranging from $30,490 to $36,430 depending on location.

$34,153 Avg median salary in Iowa
$36,430 Highest paying metro
$30,490 Lowest paying metro
13,710 Employed in Iowa

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      Cooks, Restaurant salaries by city in Iowa

      Metro area Median salary 25th pct 75th pct Employed
      Des Moines, IA $36,430 $31,460 $43,260 3,650
      Ames, IA $36,310 $31,200 $43,510 640
      Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $36,020 $30,530 $38,800 580
      Iowa City, IA $35,880 $30,730 $38,700 1,100
      Cedar Rapids, IA $35,770 $29,850 $37,580 1,280
      Dubuque, IA $35,760 $30,140 $39,090 440
      Waterloo, IA $35,170 $29,030 $36,950 780
      Davenport, IA-IL $34,650 $29,430 $36,890 1,810
      Northeast Iowa $31,200 $29,090 $36,350 690
      Southeast Iowa $31,120 $29,100 $36,630 1,390
      Northwest Iowa $31,030 $29,370 $36,350 920
      Southwest Iowa $30,490 $28,630 $36,040 430

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