How much does a cook make in Des Moines?
$36,760a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $17.67 an hour or $3,063 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.67
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among cities
- 56 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 270
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,720Median: $36,760Highest 10%: $47,320
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,720 | $12.85 | |
| 25th | $30,840 | $14.83 | |
| Median | $36,760 | $17.67 | |
| 75th | $42,580 | $20.47 | |
| 90th | $47,320 | $22.75 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Dubuque, IA | $36,990 |
| Ames, IA | $36,070 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,990 |
| Sioux City, IA | $33,880 |
| Waterloo, IA | $33,520 |
| Davenport, IA | $33,280 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $32,940 |
| Omaha, NE | $32,710 |
Related jobs in Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $51,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $42,650 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $17.67 ($36,760 a year).
Do cooks make more in Des Moines than the national average?
Yes: $36,760 against $35,880 nationally, 2% more.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $34,090, so Des Moines pays 8% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for cook pay?
56 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,720 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,320 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.