Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Ames, IA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median $36,410 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,704 take-home, or $2,559 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Ames, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,189
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,257
- Medicare (1.45%)$528
- Iowa income tax$732
- Take-home pay$30,704
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Ames, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,380 | $14.13 | $25,322 | $2,110 |
| 25th percentile | $31,210 | $15.00 | $26,723 | $2,227 |
| Median (50th) | $36,410 | $17.50 | $30,704 | $2,559 |
| 75th percentile | $42,630 | $20.50 | $35,465 | $2,955 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,200 | $23.17 | $39,729 | $3,311 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,410 buys in Ames, IA
Prices in Ames, IA are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 31% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,704 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,565 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Ames, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Ames, IA ranks #31 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 31 | Ames, IA | $36,410 | $30,704 | $34,565 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Sioux City, IA — $36,270
- Dubuque, IA — $35,610
- Waterloo, IA — $35,420
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $35,720
- Davenport, IA — $35,480
- Des Moines, IA — $36,070
- Iowa City, IA — $35,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Ames, IA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Ames, IA metro area is $36,410 a year, or about $17.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,210 and $42,630.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Ames, IA?
On the median $36,410 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $30,704 a year ($2,559 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $732 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Ames, IA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,565 would in a typical U.S. city. Ames, IA ranks #31 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Ames, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Ames, IA is $975 a month ($1,126 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,710
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,220
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,710
- Bartender — $21,580