How much does a chef and head cook make in Ames?
$51,360a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Ames, IA metro area. That is $24.69 an hour or $4,280 a month.
- Hourly
- $24.69
- Vs. national median
- -18%
- Rank among cities
- 255 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 60
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,210Median: $51,360Highest 10%: $88,710
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,210 | $17.41 | |
| 25th | $44,760 | $21.52 | |
| Median | $51,360 | $24.69 | |
| 75th | $68,320 | $32.85 | |
| 90th | $88,710 | $42.65 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Omaha, NE | $62,240 |
| Des Moines, IA | $51,210 |
| Sioux City, IA | $49,590 |
| Davenport, IA | $48,850 |
| Iowa City, IA | $48,760 |
| Dubuque, IA | $47,690 |
| Waterloo, IA | $44,610 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $44,480 |
Related jobs in Ames
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $39,710 |
| Cook | $36,540 |
| Cook | $36,410 |
| Cook | $36,070 |
| Food Server | $31,840 |
| Dishwasher | $30,110 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,900 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,630 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,220 |
| Host and Hostess | $28,480 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Ames?
The median hourly pay in the Ames, IA metro area is $24.69 ($51,360 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Ames than the national average?
No: $51,360 against $62,470 nationally, 18% less.
How does Ames compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $47,990, so Ames pays 7% more.
Where does Ames rank for chef and head cook pay?
255 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Ames?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,210 or less a year; the top 10% make $88,710 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.