Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Waterloo, IA

The median cooks, institution and cafeteria in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA earns $35,680 a year, 5% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,458 a month.

10th percentile: $28,120
25th percentile: $30,490
Median percentile: $35,680
75th percentile: $36,980
90th percentile: $42,930

Based on 500 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

$29,493 take-home a year

Gross pay	$35,680
Federal income tax	−$2,102
Social Security + Medicare	−$2,730
Iowa income tax (approx.)	−$1,356
Monthly take-home	$2,458
Every two weeks	$1,134

Does it go far here?

$40,985Median pay in Waterloo, IA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 87.1 vs 100).

40%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($977 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Waterloo, IA

Job	Median pay
General and Operations Managers	$82,400
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$77,850
Registered Nurses	$76,920
Accountants and Auditors	$73,530
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	$67,040
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$60,780
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$60,440
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	$60,420

All cooks, institution and cafeteria salaries · Take-home pay in Iowa