The median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Ames, IA is $35,330 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $35,040.
Pay spans roughly $28,230 at the 10th percentile to $44,410 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $16.99 per hour. An estimated 350 people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in Ames, IA.
| Median (annual) | $35,330 |
| Mean (annual) | $35,040 |
| Median (hourly) | $16.99 |
| 10th percentile | $28,230 |
| 90th percentile | $44,410 |
| Employment | 350 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.