Cooks, Short Order Salary in Des Moines, IA

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

Median annual salary $33,670 -5.5% vs national
Median hourly $16.19
10th percentile $24,050
90th percentile $45,820
Employed locally 360
National median $35,620

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Cooks, Short Order
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Des Moines, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $24,050
    25th
    $30,120
    50th (median)
    $33,670
    75th
    $37,520
    90th
    $45,820

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 40% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 60% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $44,090
    California $39,010
    District of Columbia $38,340
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $38,340
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $37,600
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $37,360

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,010
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,840
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,430
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,480
    Bartenders $23,430
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,360

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Des Moines, IA is $16.19, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.75 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Des Moines, IA is 5.5% below the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in Des Moines?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $24,050 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,120.