SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Iowa
Iowa · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay in Iowa is $21,000 a year, 40.4% under the national median of $35,230 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Iowa is $21,000 a year, 40.4% under the national median of $35,230 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $15,080 and $35,370. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $15,080 and the ninetieth at $47,980.
The area has 22,410 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.98 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Iowa ranks 47th by median wage. Davenport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $31,200. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 711th of 711 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,080 | −57.2% |
| 25th | $15,080 | −57.2% |
| Median (50th) | $21,000 | −40.4% |
| 75th | $35,370 | +0.4% |
| 90th | $47,980 | +36.2% |
| Mean | $26,940 | −23.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $31,200 | 2,680 | |
| 2 | Sioux City | $26,430 | 1,030 | |
| 3 | Ames | $22,710 | 1,010 | |
| 4 | Iowa City | $22,030 | 1,890 | |
| 5 | Cedar Rapids | $21,670 | 1,920 | |
| 6 | Waterloo | $21,490 | 1,280 | |
| 7 | Des Moines | $20,410 | 6,250 | |
| 8 | Dubuque | $20,060 | 810 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $21,000 goes as far as $23,918 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 32.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$21,000as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$23,918US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $21,000 a year, 40.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $15,080 to $47,980 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 22,410 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 47th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Davenport, at $31,200.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $21,000, or $10.10 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 $35,230, so pay in Iowa is 40.4% 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 $47,980 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $15,080 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 Davenport, at $31,200 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 22,410 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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