Fast Food and Counter Workers Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$21,620
- 25th Percentile — Junior$26,150
- 50th Percentile — Median$28,390
- 75th Percentile — Senior$33,440
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$35,990
Half of Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa earn more than $28,390. The top 10% make $35,990 or more, while entry-level workers start around $21,620.
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 35th of 51 states for Fast Food and Counter Workers pay, at $28,940 per year (10.0% below the U.S. average of $32,150).
- 40,290 people work as Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa — 1.0% of all U.S. Fast Food and Counter Workers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.04: Fast Food and Counter Workers jobs are more concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $21,620; the top 10% earn over $35,990.
- Hourly equivalent: $13.91 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $41,680.
- Among hospitality jobs in Iowa, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($52,840).
Fast Food and Counter Workers Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Fast Food and Counter Workers here earn $28,940 on average, placing the state 35th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $28,940 is roughly equivalent to $33,651 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Wisconsin ($29,110), Utah ($29,100), North Carolina ($29,050) are the closest alternatives for Fast Food and Counter Workers 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 +82.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $42,360/yr Iowa +46.4% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $35,700/yr Iowa +23.4% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $35,260/yr Iowa +21.8% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $27,600/yr Iowa 4.6% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $26,940/yr Iowa 6.9% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $26,810/yr Iowa 7.4% vs this role
- Bartenders $25,620/yr Iowa 11.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Iowa?
The average Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Iowa is $28,940 per year (median $28,390), which is 10.0% below the national average of $32,150.
How does Iowa rank for Fast Food and Counter Workers pay?
Iowa ranks 35th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($41,680/yr).
How much do entry-level Fast Food and Counter Workers make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Fast Food and Counter Workers in Iowa earn about $21,620 per year and the 25th percentile is $26,150.
How much do Fast Food and Counter Workers make per hour in Iowa?
About $13.91 per hour, based on the $28,940 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Fast Food and Counter Workers work in Iowa?
BLS counts 40,290 Fast Food and Counter Workers jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data