How much does a cook make in Waterloo?
$35,420a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area. That is $17.03 an hour or $2,952 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.03
- Vs. national median
- -5%
- Rank among cities
- 241 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 670
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,910Median: $35,420Highest 10%: $44,170
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,910 | $13.90 | |
| 25th | $30,500 | $14.66 | |
| Median | $35,420 | $17.03 | |
| 75th | $37,800 | $18.17 | |
| 90th | $44,170 | $21.24 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Omaha, NE | $37,840 |
| Ames, IA | $36,410 |
| Sioux City, IA | $36,270 |
| Des Moines, IA | $36,070 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,910 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,720 |
| Dubuque, IA | $35,610 |
| Davenport, IA | $35,480 |
Related jobs in Waterloo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $44,610 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,180 |
| Cook | $35,680 |
| Cook | $33,520 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,050 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $28,930 |
| Dishwasher | $28,890 |
| Host and Hostess | $28,190 |
| Food Server | $28,140 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,820 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Waterloo?
The median hourly pay in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $17.03 ($35,420 a year).
Do cooks make more in Waterloo than the national average?
No: $35,420 against $37,390 nationally, 5% less.
How does Waterloo compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $35,670, so Waterloo pays 1% less.
Where does Waterloo rank for cook pay?
241 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,910 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,170 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.