SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Dubuque
Dubuque, IA · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Dubuque, IA is $32,520 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Dubuque, IA is $32,520 per year, close to the national median of $35,320 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $26,530 at the tenth percentile to more than $40,250 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $30,280 to $36,790.
Employment stands at 150, or 2.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Iowa City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $35,120. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 231st of 249 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,530 | −24.9% |
| 25th | $30,280 | −14.3% |
| Median (50th) | $32,520 | −7.9% |
| 75th | $36,790 | +4.2% |
| 90th | $40,250 | +14.0% |
| Mean | $34,020 | −3.7% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $35,120 | 270 | |
| 2 | Des Moines | $33,120 | 770 | |
| 3 | Waterloo | $32,050 | 170 | |
| 4 | Sioux City | $31,330 | 280 | |
| 5 | Davenport | $31,200 | 620 | |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $30,940 | 340 | |
| 7 | Ames | $29,900 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Dubuque run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $32,520 goes as far as $37,039 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$32,520as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,039US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $32,520 a year, 7.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,530 to $40,250 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 150 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Iowa City, at $35,120.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Dubuque, IA?
The median annual wage is $32,520, or $15.63 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 $35,320, so pay in Dubuque, IA is 7.9% 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 Dubuque, IA earns more than $40,250 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,530 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 Iowa City, at $35,120 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 150 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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