Cooks, Fast Food salary in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
Cooks, Fast Food in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area earn a median of $28,390 a year ($13.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,160 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is about the same as the Iowa statewide median of $28,510. There are 6.4 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $27,530, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,630 | $7.52 |
| 25th percentile | $15,630 | $7.52 |
| Median | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| 75th percentile | $34,790 | $16.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,160 | $17.86 |
| Average (mean) | $27,530 | $13.24 |
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 | $2,365.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,182.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,091.92 |
| Weekly | $545.96 |
| Hourly | $13.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,390 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $32,970 | 740 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $31,220 | 1,480 |
| Rapid City, SD | $31,190 | 320 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $30,460 | 790 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $30,360 | 1,980 |
| Grand Island, NE | $29,970 | 90 |
| Dubuque, IA | $29,500 | 290 |
| Lincoln, NE | $29,430 | 760 |
| Iowa City, IA | $29,200 | 440 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $29,040 | 490 |
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 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,270 | $17.44 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,330 | $15.06 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $33,880 | $16.29 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,090 | $13.99 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $26,430 | $12.71 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Bartender | $23,750 | $11.42 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,290 | $15.04 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,760 | $14.31 |
| Dishwasher | $29,230 | $14.05 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,080 | $13.50 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $49,590 | $23.84 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
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 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area is $28,390 a year, or $13.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area earn at least $37,160 a year. The top 25% earn $34,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,630 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $15,630 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD?
About 480 cooks, fast food are employed in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area, not counting the self-employed.