Waiters and Waitresses Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$15,080
- 25th Percentile — Junior$15,080
- 50th Percentile — Median$21,000
- 75th Percentile — Senior$35,370
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$47,980
Half of Waiters and Waitresses in Iowa earn more than $21,000. The top 10% make $47,980 or more, while entry-level workers start around $15,080.
Waiters and Waitresses in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 46th of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses pay, at $26,940 per year (32.8% below the U.S. average of $40,060).
- 22,410 people work as Waiters and Waitresses in Iowa — 1.0% of all U.S. Waiters and Waitresses jobs.
- Location quotient 0.98: Waiters and Waitresses jobs are less concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $15,080; the top 10% earn over $47,980.
- Hourly equivalent: $12.95 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $68,260.
- Among hospitality jobs in Iowa, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($52,840).
Waiters and Waitresses Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Waiters and Waitresses here earn $26,940 on average, placing the state 46th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $26,940 is roughly equivalent to $31,326 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Montana ($29,180), Tennessee ($29,070), Arkansas ($29,050) are the closest alternatives for Waiters and Waitresses 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 +96.1% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $42,360/yr Iowa +57.2% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $35,700/yr Iowa +32.5% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $35,260/yr Iowa +30.9% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,940/yr Iowa +7.4% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $27,600/yr Iowa +2.4% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $26,810/yr Iowa 0.5% vs this role
- Bartenders $25,620/yr Iowa 4.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Iowa?
The average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Iowa is $26,940 per year (median $21,000), which is 32.8% below the national average of $40,060.
How does Iowa rank for Waiters and Waitresses pay?
Iowa ranks 46th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($68,260/yr).
How much do entry-level Waiters and Waitresses make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Waiters and Waitresses in Iowa earn about $15,080 per year and the 25th percentile is $15,080.
How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Iowa?
About $12.95 per hour, based on the $26,940 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Waiters and Waitresses work in Iowa?
BLS counts 22,410 Waiters and Waitresses jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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