The median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Iowa is $34,560 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $33,580.
Pay spans roughly $25,140 at the 10th percentile to $40,410 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $16.61 per hour. An estimated 9,460 people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in Iowa.
| Median (annual) | $34,560 |
| Mean (annual) | $33,580 |
| Median (hourly) | $16.61 |
| 10th percentile | $25,140 |
| 90th percentile | $40,410 |
| Employment | 9,460 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.