SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Cedar Rapids, IA is $29,940 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 15.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Cedar Rapids, IA is $29,940 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 15.3%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $28,430 and $35,180. The lowest tenth earn under $28,020, while the highest tenth earn more than $36,600.
The area has 470 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.79 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Des Moines records the highest median at $33,790. Of the 391 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 371st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,020 | −20.8% |
| 25th | $28,430 | −19.6% |
| Median (50th) | $29,940 | −15.3% |
| 75th | $35,180 | −0.5% |
| 90th | $36,600 | +3.5% |
| Mean | $31,360 | −11.3% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines | $33,790 | 1,060 | |
| 2 | Dubuque | $32,270 | 230 | |
| 3 | Ames | $31,840 | 180 | |
| 4 | Davenport | $31,730 | 630 | |
| 5 | Sioux City | $31,290 | 230 | |
| 6 | Iowa City | $29,350 | 250 | |
| 7 | Waterloo | $28,140 | 390 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Cedar Rapids run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $29,940 goes as far as $34,100 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,940as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,100US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,940 a year, 15.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,020 to $36,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 470 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Des Moines, at $33,790.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median annual wage is $29,940, or $14.40 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 $35,360, so pay in Cedar Rapids, IA is 15.3% 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 Cedar Rapids, IA earns more than $36,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,020 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 $33,790 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 470 jobs in this occupation in Cedar Rapids, 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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