Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn a median of $29,940 a year ($14.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 470 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,600 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 1% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $30,110. There are 3.4 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $31,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Cedar Rapids, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,020 | $13.47 |
| 25th percentile | $28,430 | $13.67 |
| Median | $29,940 | $14.40 |
| 75th percentile | $35,180 | $16.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,600 | $17.60 |
| Average (mean) | $31,360 | $15.08 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,495 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,247.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,151.54 |
| Weekly | $575.77 |
| Hourly | $14.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,940 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $33,790 | 1,060 |
| Dubuque, IA | $32,270 | 230 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $32,150 | 1,690 |
| Ames, IA | $31,840 | 180 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,730 | 630 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $31,290 | 230 |
| Iowa City, IA | $29,350 | 250 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $28,140 | 390 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,280 | $13.60 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,670 | $10.42 |
| Bartender | $21,600 | $10.38 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,720 | $17.17 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,410 | $17.51 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,040 | $13.96 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,940 | $14.87 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,020 | $13.95 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,050 | $13.49 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $44,480 | $21.39 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,940 | $15.84 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Cedar Rapids, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area is $29,940 a year, or $14.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn at least $36,600 a year. The top 25% earn $35,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,020 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $28,430 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Cedar Rapids, IA?
About 470 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.