Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Des Moines, IA

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

Median annual salary $33,710 -2.2% vs national
Median hourly $16.21
10th percentile $28,640
90th percentile $36,790
Employed locally 1,150
National median $34,460

Compare Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Des Moines, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
in
Des Moines, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,640
    25th
    $29,080
    50th (median)
    $33,710
    75th
    $35,350
    90th
    $36,790

    Des Moines economic context

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

    Top-paying metros for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $57,540
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $45,030
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $42,600
    Ithaca, NY $40,230

    Nearby metros — Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $38,850
    California $37,690
    District of Columbia $37,570
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $37,360
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $36,700
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $36,580

    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 Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Des Moines, IA is $16.21, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.21 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries?

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Des Moines, IA is 2.2% below the national median of $34,460. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Des Moines?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $28,640 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,080.