Cooks, Short Order Salary in Iowa
Cooks, Short Orders in Iowa make a median of $31,520 a year, or about $15.16 an hour. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $40K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $32K get you in Iowa?
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level cooks, short orders (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $40K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Short Order salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $35K | +11% | 90 |
| Iowa City | $35K | +10% | 130 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $34K | +7% | 360 |
| Dubuque | $33K | +3% | 80 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $32K | +2% | 160 |
| Sioux City | $32K | +1% | 90 |
| Cedar Rapids | $31K | -0% | 150 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $30K | -4% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track cooks, short order salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, short orders make in Iowa?
The median is $31,520 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,930, and experienced cooks, short orders can clear $39,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,165/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 49.1% 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 cooks, short order salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, short order salary is worth about $35,472 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, short orders 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.