Iowa Median
$33,480
per year
Hourly Rate
$16.10
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-7% vs US median
US median $35,840
State Rank
#24 of 44
310 employed here
How much do Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other make in Iowa?
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Iowa take home a median of $33,480 annually — roughly $16.10 an hour — which runs 7% below the national median of $35,840.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $24,360 while the top 10% make $42,330 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $27,910 and $36,940 a year.
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,360 | $11.71 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $27,910 | $13.42 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $33,480 | $16.10 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $36,940 | $17.76 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,330 | $20.35 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 24th out of 44 states and territories for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary in other states
Nebraska $46,170Hawaii $43,540Oregon $39,080Illinois $38,880District of Columbia $38,580New Hampshire $38,210Indiana $38,160Arizona $37,600Maryland $37,500Utah $37,180California $36,910Tennessee $36,640Connecticut $36,320New Jersey $36,290New Mexico $36,250Virginia $35,870Colorado $35,710Massachusetts $35,300Michigan $35,100Washington $34,650New York $34,340Florida $34,200Delaware $33,840Pennsylvania $33,040Vermont $32,420Wyoming $31,840Arkansas $31,660Nevada $31,510Wisconsin $31,240Oklahoma $31,200Rhode Island $31,200Mississippi $30,600Texas $30,210North Carolina $30,160Montana $29,720Missouri $28,600Ohio $27,540Georgia $25,740North Dakota $23,410Alabama $22,990South Carolina $22,230Louisiana $21,820West Virginia $21,640
Working as Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Iowa
Nationally, about 85,000 people work as Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Iowa pay ($33,480) 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 do Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other make in Iowa?
The median Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary in Iowa is $33,480 per year, or about $16.10 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $24,360 at the entry level to $42,330 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other about 7% less than the national median of $35,840. Iowa ranks 24th out of 44 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $33,480 a year. About 310 Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other 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 Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other 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.