Cooks, Fast Food salary in Dubuque, IA
Cooks, Fast Food in the Dubuque, IA metro area earn a median of $29,500 a year ($14.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,540 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 3% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $28,510. There are 5.0 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $28,870, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Dubuque, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,690 | $7.54 |
| 25th percentile | $23,200 | $11.15 |
| Median | $29,500 | $14.18 |
| 75th percentile | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| Average (mean) | $28,870 | $13.88 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,458.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,229.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,134.62 |
| Weekly | $567.31 |
| Hourly | $14.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,500 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $31,220 | 1,480 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $30,460 | 790 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $30,360 | 1,980 |
| Iowa City, IA | $29,200 | 440 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $29,040 | 490 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $28,390 | 480 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Dubuque, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,890 | $17.74 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,520 | $15.63 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,990 | $17.78 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,680 | $13.79 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $20,060 | $9.65 |
| Bartender | $21,720 | $10.44 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,510 | $19.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,270 | $15.51 |
| Dishwasher | $29,380 | $14.13 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,670 | $13.31 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,340 | $13.63 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $47,690 | $22.93 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $32,340 | $15.55 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Dubuque, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Dubuque, IA?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Dubuque, IA metro area is $29,500 a year, or $14.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Dubuque, IA?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Dubuque, IA metro area earn at least $42,540 a year. The top 25% earn $34,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Dubuque, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,690 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $23,200 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Dubuque, IA?
About 290 cooks, fast food are employed in the Dubuque, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.