How much does a food server make in Des Moines?
$33,790a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $16.25 an hour or $2,816 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.25
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 162 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 1,060
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,750Median: $33,790Highest 10%: $37,870
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,750 | $13.82 | |
| 25th | $29,440 | $14.15 | |
| Median | $33,790 | $16.25 | |
| 75th | $36,210 | $17.41 | |
| 90th | $37,870 | $18.21 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Dubuque, IA | $32,270 |
| Omaha, NE | $32,150 |
| Ames, IA | $31,840 |
| 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 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 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 food server make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $16.25 ($33,790 a year).
Do food servers make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $33,790 against $35,360 nationally, 4% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $30,110, so Des Moines pays 12% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for food server pay?
162 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,750 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,870 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.