The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Iowa is $43,690 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $48,630.
Pay spans roughly $29,960 at the 10th percentile to $71,460 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $21.00 per hour. An estimated 1,500 people work as chefs and head cooks in Iowa.
| Median (annual) | $43,690 |
| Mean (annual) | $48,630 |
| Median (hourly) | $21.00 |
| 10th percentile | $29,960 |
| 90th percentile | $71,460 |
| Employment | 1,500 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.