Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Ames, Iowa

The annual salary statistics of chefs and head cooks in Ames, Iowa is shown in Table 1. The wage statistics of chefs and head cooks in Ames is based on the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1. Annual Salary of Chefs and Head Cooks in Ames, Iowa

Percentile BracketAverage Annual Salary
10th Percentile Wage
$34,250
25th Percentile Wage
$42,830
50th Percentile Wage
$54,190
75th Percentile Wage
$66,030
90th Percentile Wage
$82,100

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for chefs and head cooks in Ames, Iowa in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is $82,100. The median (50th percentile) annual salary is $54,190. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent earners is $34,250.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2022)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of chefs and head cooks from 2012 to 2022.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth10-Year Growth
2022
$54,190
13.93% 28.75%
2021
$46,640
-3.02% -
2017
$48,050
2.41% -
2016
$46,890
0.26% -
2015
$46,770
9.84% -
2013
$42,170
8.44% -
2012
$38,610
- -

Table 2. Compare Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Ames with Other Iowa Cities

From Table 3 we note that with a median annual salary of $54,190, Ames is the highest paying city for chefs and head cooks in state of Iowa, followed by Dubuque (median annual salary $51,250). In comparison, the median annual salary of chefs and head cooks in Ames is 5.4 percent (5.4%) higher than that in Dubuque.

Cities/Areas Median Annual Salary
Ames
$54,190
Dubuque
$51,250
Iowa City
$47,870
Cedar Rapids
$46,270
Des Moines-West Des Moines
$45,040
Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$44,710
Waterloo-Cedar Falls
$43,420
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island
$42,990
Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$42,950
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$41,390
Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$36,340

See also: Top paying jobs in Ames, Iowa.