Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in Iowa make a median of $47,990 a year, or about $23.07 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $54,006 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 32.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Iowa?
About chefs and head cooks
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for chefs and head cooks in Iowa runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $51K | +7% | 60 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $51K | +7% | 460 |
| Sioux City | $50K | +3% | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $49K | +2% | 180 |
| Iowa City | $49K | +2% | 160 |
| Dubuque | $48K | -1% | 70 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $45K | -7% | 60 |
| Cedar Rapids | $44K | -7% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 33.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,206/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chefs and head cook a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $48K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
Iowa pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Iowa?
The median is $47,990 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,770, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $74,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,191/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 33.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $54,006 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.