Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Iowa City, IA

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

Median annual salary $29,120 -15.5% vs national
Median hourly $14.00
10th percentile $26,810
90th percentile $34,940
Employed locally 230
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
in
Iowa City, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,810
    25th
    $28,070
    50th (median)
    $29,120
    75th
    $31,560
    90th
    $34,940

    Iowa City economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $74,142 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 39% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 61% 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 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 Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make per hour in Iowa City?

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Iowa City, IA is $14.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.37 or more per hour.

    Is Iowa City above or below average for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries?

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Iowa City, IA is 15.5% 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 Iowa City?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $26,810 per year in Iowa City, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,070.