Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Ames
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,710 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Ames earn between $44,760 and $68,320.
- $36K10th
- $45K25th
- $51KMedian
- $68K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,540 | $4,878 | $28.14 |
| Median | $51,360 | $4,280 | $24.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,760 | $3,730 | $21.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,320 | $5,693 | $32.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Ames vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Ames earn 11% more than the Iowa average ($52,840) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $58,540 | $51,360 | $36,210 | $88,710 | 60 |
| Iowa | $52,840 | $47,990 | $36,770 | $74,730 | 1,640 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Ames
On the average salary of $58,540, a single filer in Ames takes home about $47,604 a year, or $3,967 a month and $1,831 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Ames a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Ames area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $58,540 buys what about $65,901 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Ames ($50,220). A typical home costs $280,269, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Iowa cities
Ames ranks 1st of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Ames$58,540
- Des Moines$56,320
- Iowa City$54,580
- Sioux City$54,130
- Davenport$53,090
- Dubuque$52,600
- Cedar Rapids$50,920
- Waterloo$50,740
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Ames: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Ames?
$28.14 an hour on average, and $24.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Ames?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Ames?
About $47,604 a year ($3,967 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,540. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Ames than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Ames, IA (11180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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