The average salary for a restaurant cook in Iowa is around $35,670 per year.
Avg Salary
Restaurant cooks earn an average yearly salary of $35,670.
Wages typically start from $28,690 and go up to $44,460.
46% below national average Updated in 2025
Restaurant cook earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$21.38 per hour
$44,460 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$18.36 per hour
$38,180 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$17.15 per hour
$35,670 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$14.60 per hour
$30,360 per year
10th percentile
Starting level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$13.79 per hour
$28,690 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Restaurant cook salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
| New Hampshire | $40,200 |
| Alaska | $40,140 |
| Connecticut | $39,480 |
| Arizona | $38,670 |
| Nevada | $38,610 |
| Minnesota | $38,590 |
| New Jersey | $38,460 |
| Montana | $38,060 |
| Delaware | $37,840 |
| Maryland | $37,820 |
| Illinois | $37,580 |
| Nebraska | $37,030 |
| Florida | $37,020 |
| Michigan | $36,980 |
| Missouri | $36,940 |
| Wyoming | $36,830 |
| Virginia | $36,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,580 |
| Wisconsin | $36,550 |
| Rhode Island | $36,510 |
| Utah | $36,490 |
| North Dakota | $36,470 |
| Idaho | $36,440 |
| Tennessee | $36,420 |
| South Dakota | $36,220 |
| Georgia | $35,940 |
| South Carolina | $35,740 |
| Iowa | $35,670 |
| Ohio | $35,540 |
| North Carolina | $35,400 |
| Indiana | $35,170 |
| Kansas | $35,130 |
| New Mexico | $35,020 |
| Texas | $34,760 |
| Kentucky | $34,640 |
| Alabama | $32,180 |
| Oklahoma | $31,720 |
| Arkansas | $30,180 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $29,700 |
| West Virginia | $29,590 |
| Mississippi | $29,560 |
| Louisiana | $29,050 |
| Guam | $21,270 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,000 |
How do restaurant cook salaries compare to similar careers?
Restaurant cooks earn 10% less than similar careers in Iowa. On average, they make less than brewmasters but more than baristas.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Brewmaster salary | $52K |
| Culinary chef salary | $48K |
| Food batchmaker salary | $48K |
| Butcher salary | $38K |
| Baker salary | $37K |
| Restaurant cook salary | $36K |
| Dietetic technician salary | $35K |
| Food preparation worker salary | $30K |
| Maitre d' salary | $28K |
| Barista salary | $28K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)