Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Des Moines, IA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $36,070 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,443 take-home, or $2,537 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,148
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,236
- Medicare (1.45%)$523
- Iowa income tax$719
- Take-home pay$30,443
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,670 | $14.26 | $25,544 | $2,129 |
| 25th percentile | $32,910 | $15.82 | $28,024 | $2,335 |
| Median (50th) | $36,070 | $17.34 | $30,443 | $2,537 |
| 75th percentile | $42,580 | $20.47 | $35,427 | $2,952 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,010 | $21.64 | $37,287 | $3,107 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,070 buys in Des Moines, IA
Prices in Des Moines, IA are 8.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,443 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,199 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 Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #25 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 25 | Des Moines, IA | $36,070 | $30,443 | $33,199 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Des Moines, IA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $36,070 a year, or about $17.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,910 and $42,580.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $36,070 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $30,443 a year ($2,537 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $719 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,199 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #25 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Des Moines, IA is $1,092 a month ($1,302 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,140
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,410