How much does a food server make in Ames?
$31,840a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Ames, IA metro area. That is $15.31 an hour or $2,653 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.31
- Vs. national median
- -10%
- Rank among cities
- 208 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 180
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,610Median: $31,840Highest 10%: $35,750
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,610 | $13.27 | |
| 25th | $28,490 | $13.70 | |
| Median | $31,840 | $15.31 | |
| 75th | $35,530 | $17.08 | |
| 90th | $35,750 | $17.19 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Des Moines, IA | $33,790 |
| Dubuque, IA | $32,270 |
| Omaha, NE | $32,150 |
| Davenport, IA | $31,730 |
| Sioux City, IA | $31,290 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $29,940 |
| Iowa City, IA | $29,350 |
| Waterloo, IA | $28,140 |
Related jobs in Ames
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $51,360 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $39,710 |
| Cook | $36,540 |
| Cook | $36,410 |
| Cook | $36,070 |
| Dishwasher | $30,110 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,900 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,630 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,220 |
| Host and Hostess | $28,480 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Ames?
The median hourly pay in the Ames, IA metro area is $15.31 ($31,840 a year).
Do food servers make more in Ames than the national average?
No: $31,840 against $35,360 nationally, 10% less.
How does Ames compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $30,110, so Ames pays 6% more.
Where does Ames rank for food server pay?
208 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Ames?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,610 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,750 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.