Cooks, Restaurant salary in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
Cooks, Restaurant in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area earn a median of $36,270 a year ($17.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 560 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,620 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 2% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $35,670. There are 7.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,140, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,370 | $14.12 |
| 25th percentile | $30,730 | $14.77 |
| Median | $36,270 | $17.44 |
| 75th percentile | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,620 | $21.93 |
| Average (mean) | $36,140 | $17.38 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,022.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,511.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,395 |
| Weekly | $697.50 |
| Hourly | $17.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,270 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, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $37,840 | 2,850 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,310 | 690 |
| Lincoln, NE | $37,290 | 890 |
| Grand Island, NE | $36,500 | 200 |
| Ames, IA | $36,410 | 570 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,070 | 3,320 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,910 | 1,060 |
| Rapid City, SD | $35,910 | 390 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,720 | 1,110 |
| Dubuque, IA | $35,610 | 440 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,480 | 1,560 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $35,420 | 670 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median 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 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area is $36,270 a year, or $17.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area earn at least $45,620 a year. The top 25% earn $39,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,370 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,730 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD?
About 560 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area, not counting the self-employed.