Cooks, Short Order Salary in Iowa City, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Iowa City, IA

Median annual salary $34,710 -2.6% vs national
Median hourly $16.69
10th percentile $28,350
90th percentile $38,260
Employed locally 130
National median $35,620

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Cooks, Short Order
in
Iowa City, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,350
    25th
    $28,950
    50th (median)
    $34,710
    75th
    $35,950
    90th
    $38,260

    Iowa City economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $74,142 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 53% 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
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $38,340
    District of Columbia $38,340
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $37,600
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $37,360

    Related occupations in Iowa City, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,610
    Waiters and Waitresses$28,520
    Cooks, Restaurant$35,880
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,240
    Bartenders$22,880
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$36,230

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Short Order make per hour in Iowa City?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Iowa City, IA is $16.69, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.98 or more per hour.

    Is Iowa City above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Iowa City, IA is 2.6% 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 Iowa City?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $28,350 per year in Iowa City, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,950.