SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Iowa
Iowa · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Iowa is $30,110 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 14.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Iowa is $30,110 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 14.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $28,440 and $34,610. The lowest tenth earn under $27,020, while the highest tenth earn more than $36,600.
The area has 5,270 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 3.4 of every thousand jobs. Iowa ranks number 44th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Des Moines records the highest median at $33,790. Of the 711 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 689th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,020 | −23.6% |
| 25th | $28,440 | −19.6% |
| Median (50th) | $30,110 | −14.8% |
| 75th | $34,610 | −2.1% |
| 90th | $36,600 | +3.5% |
| Mean | $31,000 | −12.3% |
Highest-paying 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 | Cedar Rapids | $29,940 | 470 | |
| 7 | Iowa City | $29,350 | 250 | |
| 8 | Waterloo | $28,140 | 390 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $30,110 goes as far as $34,294 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,110as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,294US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,110 a year, 14.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,020 to $36,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,270 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 44th of 51 states for 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 Iowa?
The median annual wage is $30,110, or $14.48 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 Iowa is 14.8% 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 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 $27,020 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 5,270 jobs in this occupation in Iowa. 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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