The median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $35,360 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $34,700.
Pay spans roughly $23,300 at the 10th percentile to $44,050 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $17.00 per hour. An estimated 1,720 people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
| Median (annual) | $35,360 |
| Mean (annual) | $34,700 |
| Median (hourly) | $17.00 |
| 10th percentile | $23,300 |
| 90th percentile | $44,050 |
| Employment | 1,720 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.