Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Southwest Iowa

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

Median annual salary $30,490 -17.2% vs national
Median hourly $14.66
10th percentile $21,800
90th percentile $39,440
Employed locally 430
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,800
    25th
    $28,630
    50th (median)
    $30,490
    75th
    $36,040
    90th
    $39,440

    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

    Related occupations in Southwest Iowa

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,630
    Waiters and Waitresses $21,780
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $32,850
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,870
    Food Preparation Workers $28,640
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant $28,120

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Southwest Iowa?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Southwest Iowa is $14.66, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.00 or more per hour.

    Is Southwest Iowa above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Southwest Iowa is 17.2% 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 Southwest Iowa?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $21,800 per year in Southwest Iowa. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,630.