How much does a chef and head cook make in Des Moines?
$51,210a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $24.62 an hour or $4,268 a month.
- Hourly
- $24.62
- Vs. national median
- -18%
- Rank among cities
- 260 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 460
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,450Median: $51,210Highest 10%: $76,740
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,450 | $18.00 | |
| 25th | $45,610 | $21.93 | |
| Median | $51,210 | $24.62 | |
| 75th | $66,720 | $32.08 | |
| 90th | $76,740 | $36.89 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Omaha, NE | $62,240 |
| Ames, IA | $51,360 |
| 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 Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $42,650 |
| Cook | $36,760 |
| Cook | $36,320 |
| Cook | $36,070 |
| Food Server | $33,790 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,120 |
| Dishwasher | $30,450 |
| Cook | $30,360 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,140 |
| Host and Hostess | $28,270 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $24.62 ($51,210 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $51,210 against $62,470 nationally, 18% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $47,990, so Des Moines pays 7% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for chef and head cook pay?
260 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,450 or less a year; the top 10% make $76,740 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.