SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Iowa City
Iowa City, IA · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Iowa City, IA is $36,670 per year, close to the national median of $37,450 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Iowa City, IA is $36,670 per year, close to the national median of $37,450 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $30,320 and $37,910. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $26,390 and the ninetieth at $44,760.
Employment stands at 510, or 5.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Dubuque records the highest median at $36,890. Of the 296 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 257th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,390 | −29.5% |
| 25th | $30,320 | −19.0% |
| Median (50th) | $36,670 | −2.1% |
| 75th | $37,910 | +1.2% |
| 90th | $44,760 | +19.5% |
| Mean | $35,360 | −5.6% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubuque | $36,890 | 290 | |
| 2 | Ames | $36,540 | 380 | |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids | $36,410 | 770 | |
| 4 | Des Moines | $36,320 | 1,670 | |
| 5 | Sioux City | $36,030 | 360 | |
| 6 | Davenport | $35,740 | 840 | |
| 7 | Waterloo | $35,680 | 500 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa City run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $36,670 goes as far as $41,765 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$41,765US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,670 a year, 2.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,390 to $44,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 510 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dubuque, at $36,890.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Iowa City, IA?
The median annual wage is $36,670, or $17.63 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,450, so pay in Iowa City, IA is 2.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Iowa City, IA earns more than $44,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,390 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Dubuque, at $36,890 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 510 jobs in this occupation in Iowa City, IA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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