Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Waterloo, IA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median $35,420 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,946 take-home, or $2,495 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Waterloo, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,070
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,196
- Medicare (1.45%)$514
- Iowa income tax$694
- Take-home pay$29,946
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Waterloo, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,910 | $13.90 | $24,962 | $2,080 |
| 25th percentile | $30,500 | $14.66 | $26,180 | $2,182 |
| Median (50th) | $35,420 | $17.03 | $29,946 | $2,495 |
| 75th percentile | $37,800 | $18.17 | $31,768 | $2,647 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,170 | $21.24 | $36,644 | $3,054 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,420 buys in Waterloo, IA
Prices in Waterloo, IA are 12.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 37% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,946 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,398 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 Waterloo, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Waterloo, IA ranks #35 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 |
| 35 | Waterloo, IA | $35,420 | $29,946 | $34,398 |
*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
- Ames, IA — $36,410
- Dubuque, IA — $35,610
- 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 Waterloo, IA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $35,420 a year, or about $17.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,500 and $37,800.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Waterloo, IA?
On the median $35,420 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $29,946 a year ($2,495 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $694 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Waterloo, IA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 12.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,398 would in a typical U.S. city. Waterloo, IA ranks #35 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Waterloo, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Waterloo, IA is $793 a month ($1,040 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Waterloo, IA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,180
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,680
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,820
- Bartender — $21,540
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,490