How much does a waiter and waitress make in Des Moines?
$20,410a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $9.81 an hour or $1,701 a month.
- Hourly
- $9.81
- Vs. national median
- -42%
- Rank among cities
- 359 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 6,250
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $15,080Median: $20,410Highest 10%: $48,760
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,080 | $7.25 | |
| 25th | $15,080 | $7.25 | |
| Median | $20,410 | $9.81 | |
| 75th | $36,240 | $17.42 | |
| 90th | $48,760 | $23.44 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Omaha, NE | $34,290 |
| Davenport, IA | $31,200 |
| Sioux City, IA | $26,430 |
| Ames, IA | $22,710 |
| Iowa City, IA | $22,030 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $21,670 |
| Waterloo, IA | $21,490 |
| Dubuque, IA | $20,060 |
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 |
| Cook | $30,360 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,140 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $9.81 ($20,410 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $20,410 against $35,230 nationally, 42% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $21,000, so Des Moines pays 3% less.
Where does Des Moines rank for waiter and waitress pay?
359 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $15,080 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,760 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.