Iowa Median
$28,510
per year
Hourly Rate
$13.71
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-8% vs US median
US median $30,890
State Rank
#37 of 51
8,290 employed here
How much does a Cook, Fast Food make in Iowa?
Cooks, Fast Food in Iowa take home a median of $28,510 annually — roughly $13.71 an hour — which runs 8% below the national median of $30,890.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $15,080 while the top 10% make $40,810 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $16,140 and $33,710 a year.
Cook, Fast Food salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $16,140 | $7.76 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $28,510 | $13.71 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $33,710 | $16.21 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,810 | $19.62 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 37th out of 51 states and territories for Cook, Fast Food pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Cook, Fast Food salary in other states
Hawaii $48,120District of Columbia $44,670California $42,050Washington $39,120New Hampshire $38,590Vermont $38,230Oregon $37,880Massachusetts $37,870Colorado $36,900Maine $36,350New York $35,770Rhode Island $35,230Connecticut $34,980Illinois $34,960Minnesota $34,120Alaska $33,960Nevada $33,840Maryland $33,320Arizona $32,660New Jersey $32,220Delaware $31,840Utah $31,800Idaho $31,070South Dakota $30,950Nebraska $30,430North Dakota $30,220New Mexico $30,190Virginia $29,950Florida $29,900Missouri $29,890Indiana $29,870Michigan $29,460Wyoming $28,950Wisconsin $28,920Pennsylvania $28,810Kansas $28,640Tennessee $28,330Texas $28,280Alabama $27,870Oklahoma $27,720Arkansas $27,710South Carolina $27,420North Carolina $27,190Georgia $26,940Ohio $26,870Montana $26,770Louisiana $24,960Kentucky $23,500West Virginia $23,120Mississippi $22,670
Working as a Cook, Fast Food in Iowa
Nationally, about 641,000 people work as Cooks, Fast Food in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Iowa pay ($28,510) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cook, Fast Food make in Iowa?
The median Cook, Fast Food salary in Iowa is $28,510 per year, or about $13.71 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $15,080 at the entry level to $40,810 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Cooks, Fast Food about 8% less than the national median of $30,890. Iowa ranks 37th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Cooks, Fast Food?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $28,510 a year. About 8,290 Cooks, Fast Food are employed in Iowa. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Cook, Fast Food salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.