Food Service Managers Salary
Food Service Managers in Iowa make a median of $66,700 a year, or about $32.07 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $75,062 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 24.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $67K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Food service managers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $67K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 24.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 food service managers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $55K spread from bottom to top.
Food Service Managers salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque | $77K | +15% | 90 |
| Iowa City | $75K | +13% | 140 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $67K | +0% | 410 |
| Sioux City | $64K | -4% | 80 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $64K | -5% | 100 |
| Ames | $63K | -6% | 100 |
| Cedar Rapids | $62K | -7% | 130 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $62K | -7% | 270 |
Compare to other states
Track food service managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a food service manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 24.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for food service managers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food service managers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,737/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food service manager a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $67K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for food service managers?
Iowa pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do food service managers make in Iowa?
The median is $66,700 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,610, and experienced food service managers can clear $100,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,328/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 24.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a food service managers 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 food service managers salary is worth about $75,062 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food service managers 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.