How much does a cook make in Waterloo?
$33,520a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area. That is $16.12 an hour or $2,793 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.12
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 108 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 60
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $25,600Median: $33,520Highest 10%: $47,990
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,600 | $12.31 | |
| 25th | $30,620 | $14.72 | |
| Median | $33,520 | $16.12 | |
| 75th | $37,650 | $18.10 | |
| 90th | $47,990 | $23.07 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Dubuque, IA | $36,990 |
| Des Moines, IA | $36,760 |
| Ames, IA | $36,070 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,990 |
| Sioux City, IA | $33,880 |
| Davenport, IA | $33,280 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $32,940 |
| Omaha, NE | $32,710 |
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 | $35,420 |
| 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 $16.12 ($33,520 a year).
Do cooks make more in Waterloo than the national average?
No: $33,520 against $35,880 nationally, 7% less.
How does Waterloo compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $34,090, so Waterloo pays 2% less.
Where does Waterloo rank for cook pay?
108 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $25,600 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,990 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.