Cooks, Restaurant salary in Des Moines, IA
The median cooks, restaurant in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA earns $36,070 a year, 4% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,483 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $29,670
- 25th percentile
- $32,910
- Median percentile
- $36,070
- 75th percentile
- $42,580
- 90th percentile
- $45,010
Based on 3,320 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
$29,792 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $36,070 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,148 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,759 |
| Iowa income tax (approx.) | −$1,371 |
| Monthly take-home | $2,483 |
| Every two weeks | $1,146 |
Does it go far here?
$39,334Median pay in Des Moines, IA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 91.7 vs 100).
46%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,150 a month, Census ACS).
Top-paying jobs in Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $290,870 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $164,840 |
| Financial Managers | $154,140 |
| Pharmacists | $141,110 |
| Managers, All Other | $139,110 |
| Human Resources Managers | $138,140 |
| Sales Managers | $136,570 |
| Marketing Managers | $135,140 |