First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers Salary in Des Moines, IA
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median $42,650 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,480 take-home, or $2,957 a month.
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Pre-filled with the median first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers salary in Des Moines, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,938
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,644
- Medicare (1.45%)$618
- Iowa income tax$969
- Take-home pay$35,480
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.80% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers pay by experience in Des Moines, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,630 | $14.25 | $25,514 | $2,126 |
| 25th percentile | $36,930 | $17.75 | $31,102 | $2,592 |
| Median (50th) | $42,650 | $20.50 | $35,480 | $2,957 |
| 75th percentile | $49,030 | $23.57 | $40,364 | $3,364 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,130 | $29.87 | $50,392 | $4,199 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,650 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 first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers's $35,480 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,691 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers jobs are about as common in Des Moines, IA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers, adjusted for cost of living
Des Moines, IA ranks #13 of 92 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $61,610 | $51,684 | $46,506 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $58,260 | $47,295 | $44,257 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $52,540 | $42,957 | $41,809 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $55,520 | $44,688 | $40,470 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $52,520 | $42,777 | $40,439 |
| 6 | Nashville, TN | $45,630 | $38,844 | $40,320 |
| 7 | Winston, NC | $44,620 | $36,761 | $39,938 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $47,280 | $38,792 | $39,849 |
| 13 | Des Moines, IA | $42,650 | $35,480 | $38,691 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 92 metros →
About the job: first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers make in Des Moines, IA?
The median first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers salary in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $42,650 a year, or about $20.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,930 and $49,030.
What is a first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers’s take-home pay in Des Moines, IA?
On the median $42,650 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $35,480 a year ($2,957 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $969 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Des Moines, IA a good place to work as a first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $44,080. Local prices are 8.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,691 would in a typical U.S. city. Des Moines, IA ranks #13 of 92 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers 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) — 37% of a median first-line supervisor of food preparation and serving workers’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Des Moines, IA
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- Waiter and Waitress — $20,410