The median annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Ames, IA is $36,310 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $37,130.
Pay spans roughly $29,100 at the 10th percentile to $50,110 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $17.46 per hour. An estimated 640 people work as cooks, restaurant in Ames, IA.
| Median (annual) | $36,310 |
| Mean (annual) | $37,130 |
| Median (hourly) | $17.46 |
| 10th percentile | $29,100 |
| 90th percentile | $50,110 |
| Employment | 640 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.