Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Iowa
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Iowa (2026)
$17.22 per hour · take-home ≈ $29,593/year ($2,466/month) for a single filer
Iowa ranks 37th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 6% below the national average. Of the 8,860 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Iowa, the typical worker earns $35,810 a year — though pay ranges from $28,030 for newcomers to $44,150 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Iowa
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $28,030 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $30,970 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $35,810 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $37,920 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $44,150 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 8,860 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Iowa (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Iowa
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $35,810 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Iowa state income tax, a single filer keeps about $29,593 — an effective tax rate of 17.4%.
| Gross (median) | $35,810 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,117 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,739 |
| Iowa state income tax | −$1,361 |
| Take-home (annual) | $29,593 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,466 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Iowa paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Iowa?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Iowa is $35,810 per year ($17.22 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $30,970 and $37,920.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Iowa?
- On the median salary of $35,810, a single filer in Iowa takes home about $29,593 per year ($2,466 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.4%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Iowa?
- BLS counts 8,860 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Iowa in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Iowa
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Iowa state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Iowa.