Cooks Fast Food Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$15,080
- 25th Percentile — Junior$16,140
- 50th Percentile — Median$28,510
- 75th Percentile — Senior$33,710
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$40,810
Half of Cooks Fast Food in Iowa earn more than $28,510. The top 10% make $40,810 or more, while entry-level workers start around $15,080.
Cooks Fast Food in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 44th of 51 states for Cooks Fast Food pay, at $27,600 per year (14.8% below the U.S. average of $32,390).
- 8,290 people work as Cooks Fast Food in Iowa — 1.3% of all U.S. Cooks Fast Food jobs.
- Location quotient 1.29: Cooks Fast Food jobs are more concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $15,080; the top 10% earn over $40,810.
- Hourly equivalent: $13.27 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $43,710.
- Among hospitality jobs in Iowa, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($52,840).
Cooks Fast Food Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Cooks Fast Food here earn $27,600 on average, placing the state 44th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $27,600 is roughly equivalent to $32,093 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Oklahoma ($28,200), South Carolina ($28,080), Ohio ($27,860) are the closest alternatives for Cooks Fast Food weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chefs and Head Cooks $52,840/yr Iowa +91.4% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $42,360/yr Iowa +53.5% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $35,700/yr Iowa +29.3% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $35,260/yr Iowa +27.8% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,940/yr Iowa +4.9% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $26,940/yr Iowa 2.4% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $26,810/yr Iowa 2.9% vs this role
- Bartenders $25,620/yr Iowa 7.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Cooks Fast Food salary in Iowa?
The average Cooks Fast Food salary in Iowa is $27,600 per year (median $28,510), which is 14.8% below the national average of $32,390.
How does Iowa rank for Cooks Fast Food pay?
Iowa ranks 44th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($43,710/yr).
How much do entry-level Cooks Fast Food make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Cooks Fast Food in Iowa earn about $15,080 per year and the 25th percentile is $16,140.
How much do Cooks Fast Food make per hour in Iowa?
About $13.27 per hour, based on the $27,600 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Cooks Fast Food work in Iowa?
BLS counts 8,290 Cooks Fast Food jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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