Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Ames, IA
The median chefs and head cooks in Ames, IA earns $51,360 a year, 18% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $3,458 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $36,210
- 25th percentile
- $44,760
- Median percentile
- $51,360
- 75th percentile
- $68,320
- 90th percentile
- $88,710
Based on 60 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.
What you keep
$41,496 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $51,360 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,983 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,929 |
| Iowa income tax (approx.) | −$1,952 |
| Monthly take-home | $3,458 |
| Every two weeks | $1,596 |
Does it go far here?
$57,818Median pay in Ames, IA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 88.8 vs 100).
29%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,000 a month, Census ACS).