Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Iowa City, IA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn a median of $36,670 a year ($17.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 510 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,760 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 2% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $35,810. There are 5.5 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,360, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Iowa City, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,390 | $12.69 |
| 25th percentile | $30,320 | $14.58 |
| Median | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| 75th percentile | $37,910 | $18.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| Average (mean) | $35,360 | $17.00 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,055.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,527.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,410.38 |
| Weekly | $705.19 |
| Hourly | $17.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,670 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, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $36,890 | 290 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $36,750 | 1,890 |
| Ames, IA | $36,540 | 380 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $36,410 | 770 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,320 | 1,670 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,030 | 360 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,740 | 840 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $35,680 | 500 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Iowa City, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,910 | $17.27 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,200 | $14.04 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,120 | $16.89 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,760 | $13.83 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,030 | $10.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,970 | $18.73 |
| Bartender | $21,900 | $10.53 |
| Dishwasher | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,860 | $13.87 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,350 | $14.11 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,760 | $23.44 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Iowa City, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Iowa City, IA?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Iowa City, IA metro area is $36,670 a year, or $17.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Iowa City, IA?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn at least $44,760 a year. The top 25% earn $37,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Iowa City, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,390 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $30,320 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Iowa City, IA?
About 510 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Iowa City, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.