How much does a food server make in Cedar Rapids?
$29,940a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area. That is $14.39 an hour or $2,495 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.39
- Vs. national median
- -15%
- Rank among cities
- 262 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 470
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,020Median: $29,940Highest 10%: $36,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,020 | $13.47 | |
| 25th | $28,430 | $13.67 | |
| Median | $29,940 | $14.39 | |
| 75th | $35,180 | $16.91 | |
| 90th | $36,600 | $17.60 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Des Moines, IA | $33,790 |
| Dubuque, IA | $32,270 |
| Omaha, NE | $32,150 |
| Ames, IA | $31,840 |
| Davenport, IA | $31,730 |
| Sioux City, IA | $31,290 |
| Iowa City, IA | $29,350 |
| Waterloo, IA | $28,140 |
Related jobs in Cedar Rapids
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $44,480 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,610 |
| Cook | $36,410 |
| Cook | $35,720 |
| Cook | $32,940 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,940 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 |
| Cook | $29,040 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $29,020 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,280 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Cedar Rapids?
The median hourly pay in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area is $14.39 ($29,940 a year).
Do food servers make more in Cedar Rapids than the national average?
No: $29,940 against $35,360 nationally, 15% less.
How does Cedar Rapids compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $30,110, so Cedar Rapids pays 1% less.
Where does Cedar Rapids rank for food server pay?
262 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Cedar Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,020 or less a year; the top 10% make $36,600 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.