How much does a chef and head cook make in Cedar Rapids?
$44,480a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area. That is $21.38 an hour or $3,707 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.38
- Vs. national median
- -29%
- Rank among cities
- 318 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 170
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,350Median: $44,480Highest 10%: $73,680
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,350 | $17.48 | |
| 25th | $43,880 | $21.10 | |
| Median | $44,480 | $21.38 | |
| 75th | $57,150 | $27.48 | |
| 90th | $73,680 | $35.42 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Omaha, NE | $62,240 |
| Ames, IA | $51,360 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Cedar Rapids
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,610 |
| Cook | $36,410 |
| Cook | $35,720 |
| Cook | $32,940 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,940 |
| Food Server | $29,940 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 |
| Cook | $29,040 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,020 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,280 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Cedar Rapids?
The median hourly pay in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area is $21.38 ($44,480 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Cedar Rapids than the national average?
No: $44,480 against $62,470 nationally, 29% less.
How does Cedar Rapids compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $47,990, so Cedar Rapids pays 7% less.
Where does Cedar Rapids rank for chef and head cook pay?
318 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Cedar Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,350 or less a year; the top 10% make $73,680 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.