Food Servers, Nonrestaurant · SOC 35-3041
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in the Iowa
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025Iowa
Figures describe the state of Iowa as a whole.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Iowa earned a median of $30,110 per year ($14.48 per hour) as of the May 2025 BLS OEWS estimates. Pay ranged from $27,020 at the 10th percentile to $36,600 at the 90th. BLS estimates 5,270 people work in this occupation in the area.
Pay distribution
Half of Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Iowa earn more than $30,110 per year, half earn less; the middle half earn between $28,440 and $34,610.
| Wage | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $27,020 | $28,440 | $30,110 | $34,610 | $36,600 |
| Hourly | $12.99 | $13.68 | $14.48 | $16.64 | $17.60 |
A percentile is a cut point: 25% of workers in this occupation and area earn less than the 25th-percentile wage. The median is the 50th percentile — half earn less, half earn more.
How this area compares
- Iowa$30,110 median for Iowa; middle half earns $28,440 to $34,610
- United Statesnational$35,360 median for United States; middle half earns $31,190 to $38,500
Bars span the 25th–75th percentile (the middle half of workers); the tick marks the median.
The median here is −15% vs the U.S. median for this occupation.
Metro areas in Iowa
Metro areas in the same state with published May 2025 medians for food servers, nonrestaurant, highest first. Areas without published estimates are not listed.
- Iowathis page$30,110 median for Iowa; middle half earns $28,440 to $34,610
- $33,790 median for Des Moines metro area; middle half earns $29,440 to $36,210
- $32,270 median for Dubuque metro area; middle half earns $30,330 to $34,330
- $31,840 median for Ames metro area; middle half earns $28,490 to $35,530
- $31,730 median for Davenport metro area; middle half earns $31,200 to $34,450
- $31,290 median for Sioux City metro area; middle half earns $29,450 to $35,380
- $29,940 median for Cedar Rapids metro area; middle half earns $28,430 to $35,180
Bars span the 25th–75th percentile (the middle half of workers); the tick marks the median.
Keep exploring
Other occupations in the same SOC group with published medians here, largest employment first:
Highest-paying metro areas for food servers, nonrestaurants · Highest-paying occupations in Iowa
About this estimate
These figures are survey estimates from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program — modeled from employer reports collected over three years and benchmarked to May 2025. They describe what employers in this area currently pay across all industries, not what any individual worker will be offered.
Employment counts wage-and-salary jobs in the occupation (self-employed workers are excluded). Estimates carry sampling error; percentile wages are rounded by BLS. Some values are suppressed by BLS for confidentiality or quality — suppressed values appear here as “not published”, never as zero. Read the full methodology.
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.