Iowa Median
$21,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$10.10
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-40% vs US median
US median $35,230
State Rank
#47 of 51
22,410 employed here
How much do Waiters and Waitresses make in Iowa?
Waiters and Waitresses working in Iowa earn a median salary of $21,000 per year, or about $10.10 per hour. That is 40% below the national median of $35,230 for this occupation.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $15,080 while the top 10% make $47,980 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $15,080 and $35,370 a year.
Waiters and Waitresses salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $21,000 | $10.10 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $35,370 | $17.00 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,980 | $23.07 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 47th out of 51 states and territories for Waiters and Waitresses pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other states
Hawaii $62,390Vermont $59,140Washington $56,130Oregon $48,410District of Columbia $47,850New York $47,020New Jersey $44,960Colorado $44,860Virginia $44,760Arizona $43,950Maine $43,370Massachusetts $38,460New Hampshire $38,430Connecticut $37,770Michigan $37,760New Mexico $36,920Delaware $36,880Maryland $36,750Ohio $36,700Florida $36,150Kansas $36,120California $36,080Rhode Island $35,420West Virginia $35,380Pennsylvania $34,690Nebraska $33,770North Carolina $32,150Illinois $31,200Utah $31,150North Dakota $30,890Idaho $30,050Wisconsin $29,670Kentucky $29,660Missouri $29,400South Dakota $28,990Indiana $28,480Tennessee $27,760Alabama $26,840Nevada $26,410Alaska $26,310Minnesota $25,470Arkansas $24,680Wyoming $23,920Montana $23,370Texas $23,240Mississippi $21,370Georgia $18,700South Carolina $18,370Oklahoma $17,910Louisiana $15,080
Working as Waiters and Waitresses in Iowa
Nationally, about 2,271,000 people work as Waiters and Waitresses in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Iowa pay ($21,000) 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 Waiters and Waitresses make in Iowa?
The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Iowa is $21,000 per year, or about $10.10 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $15,080 at the entry level to $47,980 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Waiters and Waitresses about 40% less than the national median of $35,230. Iowa ranks 47th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Waiters and Waitresses?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $21,000 a year. About 22,410 Waiters and Waitresses 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 Waiters and Waitresses 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.