Cooks Restaurant Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$28,690
- 25th Percentile — Junior$30,360
- 50th Percentile — Median$35,670
- 75th Percentile — Senior$38,180
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$44,460
Half of Cooks Restaurant in Iowa earn more than $35,670. The top 10% make $44,460 or more, while entry-level workers start around $28,690.
Cooks Restaurant in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 36th of 51 states for Cooks Restaurant pay, at $35,700 per year (7.8% below the U.S. average of $38,730).
- 12,270 people work as Cooks Restaurant in Iowa — 0.9% of all U.S. Cooks Restaurant jobs.
- Location quotient 0.87: Cooks Restaurant jobs are less concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,690; the top 10% earn over $44,460.
- Hourly equivalent: $17.16 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Washington at $47,200.
- Among hospitality jobs in Iowa, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($52,840).
Cooks Restaurant Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Cooks Restaurant here earn $35,700 on average, placing the state 36th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $35,700 is roughly equivalent to $41,512 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, North Dakota ($36,690), Wisconsin ($36,690), Tennessee ($36,530) are the closest alternatives for Cooks Restaurant 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 +48.0% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $42,360/yr Iowa +18.7% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $35,260/yr Iowa 1.2% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,940/yr Iowa 18.9% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $27,600/yr Iowa 22.7% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $26,940/yr Iowa 24.5% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $26,810/yr Iowa 24.9% vs this role
- Bartenders $25,620/yr Iowa 28.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Cooks Restaurant salary in Iowa?
The average Cooks Restaurant salary in Iowa is $35,700 per year (median $35,670), which is 7.8% below the national average of $38,730.
How does Iowa rank for Cooks Restaurant pay?
Iowa ranks 36th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Washington ($47,200/yr).
How much do entry-level Cooks Restaurant make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Cooks Restaurant in Iowa earn about $28,690 per year and the 25th percentile is $30,360.
How much do Cooks Restaurant make per hour in Iowa?
About $17.16 per hour, based on the $35,700 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Cooks Restaurant work in Iowa?
BLS counts 12,270 Cooks Restaurant jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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