LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Des Moines, IA · Generated June 14, 2026
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Des Moines, IA $36,320/yr
$36,320
Mean: $36,120
~$28,330 est. take-home
$17.46
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Difficult
Affordability score: 6/100
$67/mo
3%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$32,420
Median
$36,320
75th %
$38,730
Median is in the 62th percentile of the typical range
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in other IA cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in IA.
About Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries in Des Moines, IA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Des Moines, IA earn a median of $36,320 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $36,120, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most cooks, institution and cafeteria in this area earn between $32,420 and $38,730. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $17.46 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
This occupation is tracking close to the national average for job growth. Openings come from a mix of new positions and people retiring or changing careers, with regional variation depending on local industry mix.
Worth knowing: Staying current with industry certifications and picking up adjacent skills (data literacy, project management, or automation tools) is the most reliable way to earn above median in this field.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Jobs in Des Moines, IA
Median: $36,320/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a cooks, institution and cafeteria in Des Moines?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $36,320. The average (mean) is $36,120, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make per hour in Des Moines?▾
About $17.46/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Des Moines?▾
The middle 50% earn between $32,420 and $38,730. Below $32,420 is typically entry-level; above $38,730 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $36,320 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $36,320 | $28,330 |
| Monthly | $3,027 | $2,361 |
| Biweekly | $1,397 | $1,090 |
| Weekly | $698 | $545 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $17.46 | $13.62 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $19.96 | $15.57 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $23.28 | $18.16 |
| Daily (8h) | $140 | $109 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for cooks, institution and cafeteria, based on BLS median salary data.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for cooks, institution and cafeteria across all states.
- All IA salary data — every occupation we cover in IA, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Kahului, HI — the top-paying city for cooks, institution and cafeteria in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Des Moines.
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $40,976.