How much does a cook make in Des Moines?
$30,360a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $14.60 an hour or $2,530 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.60
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 118 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 1,980
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $16,140Median: $30,360Highest 10%: $43,780
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $16,140 | $7.76 | |
| 25th | $23,830 | $11.46 | |
| Median | $30,360 | $14.60 | |
| 75th | $35,920 | $17.27 | |
| 90th | $43,780 | $21.05 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Omaha, NE | $31,220 |
| Davenport, IA | $30,460 |
| Dubuque, IA | $29,500 |
| Iowa City, IA | $29,200 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $29,040 |
| Sioux City, IA | $28,390 |
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 | $36,760 |
| Cook | $36,320 |
| Cook | $36,070 |
| Food Server | $33,790 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,120 |
| Dishwasher | $30,450 |
| 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 $14.60 ($30,360 a year).
Do cooks make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $30,360 against $30,890 nationally, 2% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $28,510, so Des Moines pays 6% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for cook pay?
118 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $16,140 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,780 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.