Cooks, Restaurant salary in Ames, IA
The median cooks, restaurant in Ames, IA earns $36,410 a year, 3% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,504 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $29,380
- 25th percentile
- $31,210
- Median percentile
- $36,410
- 75th percentile
- $42,630
- 90th percentile
- $48,200
Based on 570 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
$30,052 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $36,410 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,189 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,785 |
| Iowa income tax (approx.) | −$1,384 |
| Monthly take-home | $2,504 |
| Every two weeks | $1,156 |
Does it go far here?
$40,988Median pay in Ames, IA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 88.8 vs 100).
40%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,000 a month, Census ACS).