SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Dubuque
Dubuque, IA · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Dubuque, IA is $36,990 per year, close to the national median of $35,880 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Dubuque, IA is $36,990 per year, close to the national median of $35,880 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $31,870 and $39,080. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $26,810 and the ninetieth at $48,580.
Employment stands at 50, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Des Moines records the highest median at $36,760. Of the 249 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 210th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,810 | −25.3% |
| 25th | $31,870 | −11.2% |
| Median (50th) | $36,990 | +3.1% |
| 75th | $39,080 | +8.9% |
| 90th | $48,580 | +35.4% |
| Mean | $36,150 | +0.8% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines | $36,760 | 270 | |
| 2 | Ames | $36,070 | 60 | |
| 3 | Iowa City | $35,990 | 50 | |
| 4 | Sioux City | $33,880 | 80 | |
| 5 | Waterloo | $33,520 | 60 | |
| 6 | Davenport | $33,280 | 170 | |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids | $32,940 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Dubuque run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $36,990 goes as far as $42,130 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,130US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,990 a year, 3.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,810 to $48,580 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Des Moines, at $36,760.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Dubuque, IA?
The median annual wage is $36,990, or $17.78 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 $35,880, so pay in Dubuque, IA is 3.1% higher. 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 Dubuque, IA earns more than $48,580 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,810 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 Des Moines, at $36,760 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Dubuque, 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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